A THREE-YEAR-OLD girl has suffered serious injuries from a piece of wood that fell on her head from scaffolding.

Her mother was pushing her in a pram in Preston Street, Brighton, this morning when the object fell from the site above Greek restaurant Adelfia.

Two men have been arrested in connection with the incident.

Eyewitnesses saw blood pouring from the girl’s head as her mother screamed her name to try to keep her conscious.

One shop owner, who asked not to be named, said: “I saw a little girl with a lot of blood coming from the back of her head.

“Something fell from up the scaffolding.

"She wasn’t talking or doing anything.

“Her mum was just shouting her name to keep her awake and someone called the ambulance. Then she started crying.”

A 32-year-old man from Hove has been arrested on suspicion of grievous bodily harm with intent and a 39-year-old man from Brighton was arrested on suspicion of failing to discharge general health and safety duty at work.

Staff at Adelfia said the building work being carried out has nothing to do with the business.

The scene was cordoned off by police after the incident, which happened at 10.45am, but the tape has since been removed.

Inspectors from the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) were seen assessing planks of wood next to the scaffolding this afternoon and speaking to police.

Detective Chief Inspector Pierre Serra, of Sussex Police, said: "We are appealing to anyone who may have been walking along the street at this time to come forward with any information they have on this incident.

"We are also urging anyone who was driving along this road to check their dash cam footage to see if the incident was captured."

The girl was taken to the Royal Alexandra Children's Hospital in Brighton.

A spokesman for South East Coast Ambulance Service said: "Crews were called to the scene after reports that a child had been hit by a piece of wood.

"The wood struck the girl from height. She was taken to hospital with a head injury."

A HSE spokesman said: “HSE is aware of the incident.

"Inspectors have attended the scene and we are investigating alongside the police who are leading the initial response.

"As the investigation is ongoing we are unable to comment further at this time.”

Anyone with information about the incident should call Sussex Police on 101 quoting 455 of 06/07.

You can also report online at sussex.police.uk.