A SCHOOLBOY suffered serious facial injuries after falling face first on to a concrete slab in a Hampshire play area.

Kyle Thorpe has been left unable to eat or drink properly after half of his face swelled up following the fall.

His mum fears that the ten-year-old could be left disfigured and has urged council bosses to take action immediately to remove the stepping stones to ensure another child doesn’t suffer the same fate.

An investigation has now been launched by Test Valley Borough Council but they told the Daily Echo that the play area passed a safety inspection just four months ago.

Kyle was out playing in Tadburn Meadows, Romsey, with his older brother and his friend when he slipped on one of the concrete slabs that makes up a sundial structure, hitting his face on another.

In agony and with blood streaming from his nose, the youngster was taken to Southampton General Hospital by ambulance.

When he arrived, doctors told his mum, Lucy Borras, that had the injury been just a little higher, he could have lost his eye.

With the swelling so severe it is still unclear what damage has been done but his mum is determined to fight all the way to get the slaps removed to prevent another child suffering a fall.

Mum Lucy, 28, a carer, said: “As a mum you fear the worst and I fear that this could leave my son disfigured.

“The swelling has just got worse and worse and he has been in agony ever since.

“He cannot eat or drink, all I can do is to try and use a syringe to feed him fluids, but even that is very difficult.

“I am going to go all the way to fight the council on this to get these concrete slabs removed. They do not belong in a children’s play area.

“I also want to warn other parents of the dangers there so that this doesn’t happen to their children.”

A spokesman from Test Valley Borough Council confirmed that they had been made aware of Sunday’s incident and were taking action, but added that this is the first time concerns have been raised about the play area.

They said: “We were notified of the incident earlier today and understand that it has been very distressing for those involved.

“We will of course undertake an investigation into the accident and are currently gathering further information about what happened.

“The play area is inspected regularly by nationally accredited independent organisations to ensure it is in good condition and safe to use.

“The most recent independent playground inspection in March this year found that all play items on site posed a low or very low risk of accident. The play area is also inspected by the council on a weekly basis and no issues have been identified.”