A GIRL is fighting for her life after she was struck by a car in Maldon.

Essex Police were called at around 6pm on Sunday with reports that a car had struck a child under the age of ten in King Street.

Two people have been arrested and are in the custody of officers. 

They were arrested on suspicion of causing serious injury by dangerous driving and driving while unfit through drink or drugs.

A police spokesman said: "The child was treated by the East of England Ambulance Service at the scene and flown to hospital in London with life threatening injuries.

"We were told that prior to the car striking the girl, a blue BMW had been seen driving erratically along King Street and had collided with a number of vehicles.

"Officers closed the road and urged people to avoid the area of King Street and Cross Road.

"The police would like to thank members of the public who assisted at the scene by immediately detaining who is believed to be one of the occupants of the blue BMW.

"We are appealing for anyone with information about the incident, including those with dash cam footage."

Update 10.32am

The ambulance service have confirmed that the girl is in a stable condition.

A spokesman said: "We received a call at 5.56pm on Sunday to reports of a road traffic incident in Cross Road, Maldon.

"The trust dispatched an ambulance, a rapid response vehicle, an ambulance officer and Essex and Hearts Air Ambulance to the scene where they cared for a young girl under ten.

"The patient was airlifted to Royal London Hospital with potentially life-changing injuries."

Call police on 101 with information.