Five-year-old boy seriously injured in Essex shooting 'accident'

The boy was treated at the Royal London Hospital for a serious but not life-threatening injury

Police were called to the property in Upper Park Road, Wickford, Essex, following reports of the incident at 1.20pm yesterday. (GOOGLE)

A five-year-old boy has been seriously injured after a gun was apparently discharged by accident at his home in Essex.

Police were called to the property in Upper Park Road, Wickford, Essex, following reports of the incident at 1.20pm yesterday.

The boy was treated at the Royal London Hospital for a serious but not life-threatening injury.

An Essex Police spokeswoman said: "Police are speaking to members of the family to determine the exact circumstances leading up to the incident but police believe that this was an accidental discharge of the weapon and inquiries are ongoing."

An 18-year-old man was arrested for possession of a firearm and drug offences and has been released on bail. The weapon and other legally held firearms were handed over to police.