A nine-year-old boy has fallen eight feet down a manhole.

Matthew Jarvis was playing on the town council-owned green near his home in Longship Way, Maldon, at 8pm on Wednesday when a makeshift cover gave way. Fortunately, he suffered just cuts and bruises.

Mother Dilys Jarvis said she was "scared witless" when she heard her son screaming in the road and she ran outside straight away.

"He was crying and screaming and covered in blood. Two boys were holding him up and there was blood coming from his mouth and his leg," she said.

The two older boys had dragged Matthew from the hole after he disappeared from view while walking on the green, she said.

Matthew was checked over by a doctor but did not require hospital treatment.

A spokeswoman for Essex County Council said the manhole cover was missing before the accident and somebody had placed chipboard over it.

She said the proper steel cover was found further down the hole after the accident and replaced later on Wednesday night.

And she confirmed the town council was responsible for the maintenance of the manhole.

Maldon Town Council's clerk Helen Vincent said the town council had taken "every precaution" to make sure it was safe and would be visiting the site.

Hole lot of hurtin' - bruised Matthew Jarvis

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