Flowers have been laid on Bournemouth beach following the deaths of two children.

Emergency services were scrambled during a major operation near Bournemouth Pier on Wednesday.

A 12-year-old girl and a 17-year-old boy were pulled from the water having suffered critical injuries.

They were rushed to hospital where they later died.

A bouquet of flowers has now been placed in the sand to the right of the pier.

READ MORE: Girl, 12, and boy, 17, die after incident in water off pier

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According to police, eight other people were rescued from the water during the incident at around 4.30pm on Wednesday.

They were treated by ambulance crews for non-life-threatening injuries.

A police investigation has since been launched and a man in his 40s has been arrested on suspicion of manslaughter.

Detective Chief Superintendent Neil Corrigan, of Dorset Police, has asked anyone with information that could help their enquiries to come forward.

They should contact the force at www.dorset.police.uk or by calling 101, quoting occurrence number 55230083818.