A ROSYTH toddler suffered a serious facial injury after a heavy metal fence collapsed on to her in a playpark.

The parents of Esme Philip say the two-year-old is "lucky to be alive" after the horrific incident that left her needing surgery for a deep wound on her forehead.

Esme had been visiting Letham Glen in Leven with her siblings, grandparents and their 12-year-old son when she grabbed on to the fence that surrounds a swing specifically designed for wheelchair users.

But the fence was unsecure and fell on top of her, hitting her in the face and causing a laceration that was down to the bone.

Fife Council have since repaired the fence that caused the accident on July 25 and have launched an investigation.

Esme’s mum Stacey told the Press: “Myself and my husband were in Edinburgh at the time and when my dad phoned me at around 11.30am he was just in sheer panic.

“I’d never heard him like that before so I knew it wasn’t good.

“We came straight home and we didn’t know what to expect when we got there but it was horrendous to see."

She continued: “My mum said that Esme had run over to the swing and put her feet on the bottom bar when the whole thing fell.

“The bolts holding it together were missing and it came down on her head.

“There was blood everywhere and people in the park came and helped haul the fence off Esme.

“She was screaming.

“The surgeons have done a great job but they say she’s lucky to be alive as it could have been a lot worse.

“She could have lost her eye as it’s just above but she’s been left with a scar.”

The cut was about 20cm in length going from just above her eye to near her hairline.

NHS staff kept her in overnight at hospital fearing that she might be concussed.

Stacey says her two sons Warren and Isaac were also traumatised by the accident.

“My youngest was taken away from the scene but my seven-year-old was absolutely distraught seeing what had happened,” she added.

“Under the circumstances, Esme has been amazing. She never got upset in hospital and she helped us through it.

“The hospital staff were amazing, singing Paw Patrol to her when she was getting anaesthetic – I just couldn’t praise them enough.”

Stacey and the family have also been impressed with the way Fife Council have dealt with the matter despite the horrific injury.

She said: “They are doing a thorough investigation and they seem to have Esme’s best interests at heart.”

Senior manager John Rodigan confirmed that an investigation is underway.

He added: “Our thoughts and best wishes are with this little girl and her family. We are working with partners to look into what’s happened and will take any appropriate action.”

A Police Scotland spokeswoman added: “Following a report of a two-year-old girl being injured within a park in Leven on Sunday July 25, officers are making enquiries into the circumstances.”