Doctors at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in King's Lynn are urging families to take care while sledging after treating a number of serious injuries.

Staff have treated dozens of patients involved weather-related accidents over the weekend, including some hurt while sledging at various spots in West Norfolk.

A&E consultant Dr Robert Florance said today: 'In addition to the usual ice and snow-related falls over the weekend we treated a large number of children and adults for sledging injuries.

'These were not from people being reckless but involved parents who wouldn't normally dream of putting their children at risk. The sledge and toboggan runs have become very icy and, as a result, are very fast.

'In some cases the injuries have been quite severe and potentially life-changing for the patient. Some have had extensive damage from broken bones and the organs and tissues around them.

'We don't want to see any family's fun being spoiled by accidents, so we would urge parents to use particular caution before they or their children take to the ice and snow.'

A QEH spokesman said the sledge patients had been hurt mainly while playing at Bawsey and Castle Rising, with one or two involved in incidents at Castle Acre.

The bad weather has prevented some staff from making it into work, but services at the hospital have not generally been affected.