Three boys have died in England after breaking through the thin sheet of ice while playing on a frozen lake with several children.

The children, aged eight, 10 and 11, were rescued by rescue workers in the town of Solihull near Birmingham and taken to hospitals, police said. However, they could not be saved there. A fourth boy, six years old, remains in critical condition. Rescue workers searched the water for other victims. Eyewitnesses had previously reported that other children may have fallen into the lake.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak spoke to local MP Saqib Bhatti about the incident. His thoughts are with the relatives, said Sunak, who is the father of two daughters. Winter weather has prevailed in large parts of Great Britain since Sunday.