Police have arrested the mother of a five-year-old boy who was seriously injured after falling from the balcony of a flat at the weekend.

The boy was taken to hospital after neighbours raised the alarm in Drinenstraat, Zutphen, at around 7.30pm on Sunday.

Local police said they were investigating the cause of the fall and had detained his mother while they try to ascertain if she was involved.

Witnesses said the child had fallen from the fifth floor of the building, Hart van Nederland reported, landing on a grass verge beside the road.

Anyone who witnessed the fall is urged to contact police on 0900 8844 or 0800 7000. Witnesses can also request victim support counselling on 0900 0101.