Rescue teams searching freezing lake for survivors after a number of people 'fell through while playing on ice' and are in a critical condition

Rescue teams have been searching a freezing lake for survivors after a number of people 'fell through while playing on ice' and are in a critical condition. As many as five were said to have been rescued by the emergency services as temperatures hit sub-zero across Britain. Police called to the incident at a lake at Babbs Mill Lake in Kinshurst, Solihull, in the West Midlands, just after 2.30pm today (Sun). Police confirmed this evening that reports from the scene and videos on social media suggested the victims had been playing on the ice on a pond and had fallen through. West Midlands Police said officers are working with the fire service and paramedics as multiple people have been pulled from the freezing lake. More than two dozen emergency services workers are said to be at the scene and the situation was described as "serious" by police. Divers and specialist water rescue teams were seen entering the lake in the dark this evening in a bit to find survivors. Casualties were given medical aid at the scene by paramedics and firefighters. A spokesman for West Midlands Fire Service said: “At 2.36pm on Sunday December 11, West Midlands Fire Service, along with West Midlands Ambulance Service and West Midlands Police, were called to Babbs Mill Park in Solihull. “Reports from the scene and videos on social media indicate that people had been playing on the ice on a pond and had fallen through. "Our specialist water rescue teams arrived and acted assertively to take control of the scene and carry out rescues using specialist equipment and entering the water. “Casualties have received medical support at the scene from both firefighters and ambulance personnel prior to being taken to nearby hospitals. “The incident is still a search and rescue operation, being led by West Midlands Fire Service. "We would ask people to allow emergency services at the scene to go about their work in a safe and effective way. "We will release further details when appropriate with our fellow blue-light partners.” One person claimed that five children were playing on the frozen lake and fell through the ice. Another said one child is still missing. Babbs Mill Park beauty spot is a nature reserve with a lake and woodlands