A TODDLER has died after falling into a pond near his home in Chickerell, near Weymouth.

The community is in shock following what police described as a ‘tragic accident’.

The two-year-old boy, who has not yet been named, wandered off from his home in the Garston Hill area of Chickerell yesterday, sparking a major response operation involving dozens of police officers, paramedics and coastguards.

They joined family members scouring gardens, sheds and alleyways.

Tragically, the little boy was found half an hour later in a pond in the garden of a house in West Street.

Emergency service personnel were in tears as the boy was recovered from the pond and taken to Dorset County Hospital in Dorchester by ambulance, where he was pronounced dead.

The boy’s family were being comforted yesterday as a police spokesman described the circumstances as a ‘tragic accident’.

Members of the community in Chickerell have told of their shock and said their thoughts are with the boy's family.

Police said a woman raised the alarm at 11.44am yesterday when the boy could not be found.

All available police officers from Weymouth, assisted by officers from Bridport and the force helicopter, joined in the family's search for the toddler.

Paramedics were on the scene and dozens of emergency service vehicles lined the streets of Chickerell, near The Lugger Inn, while the intensive search was carried out.

The boy was found at 12.14pm in a carp pond in the garden of a property which is on the corner of West Street and the B3157 Chickerell Hill.

Neighbours said they saw the force helicopter searching round the area and hovering over the scene from noon.