Children injured as ceiling collapses during morning assembly at Chelsea school

Pupils were taken to hospital after the incident at the GEMS Hampshire School

The ceiling collapsed at the GEMS Hampshire School (Google)

A ceiling collapsed on terrified pupils during morning assembly at a west London school this morning.

Seven children suffered minor injuries during the incident at the GEMS Hampshire School in Manresa Road, Chelsea, and were taken to hospital.

The school is housed in the former Chelsea Public Library, which was moved out of the Grade II listed building more than 30 years ago.

The London Ambulance Service said paramedics were called to reports of a collapsed ceiling shortly before 9.30am.

“We checked over 15 children aged between nine and 12 years old at the scene," a spokesperson said.

“We treated seven of these children for minor injuries, such as dust in their eyes and bruises. They were taken to Chelsea and Westminster Hospital.”

Firefighters also attended the scene but said their equipment was not needed.

A spokesperson for the London Fire Brigade added: "A portion of the ceiling collapsed in the assembly hall but thankfully no one was trapped. We made the scene safe and left it in the hands of paramedics."

The GEMS Hampshire School was founded in 1928 and has occupied several sites, now being split between Manresa Road and another building in South Kensington.

According to its website, the library's former reading room was converted for use as an assembly hall and gym in 2004. The private school takes day pupils between the ages of three and 13.

Additional reporting by PA