A six-year-old Irish girl is in a serious condition in hospital in Malta after an accident in a swimming pool.

The incident happened yesterday evening on the island of Gozo at around 5.30pm local time.

Local police officers say the girl got into difficulty in the swimming pool of a private residence in the Ghajnsielem area.

Family members gave her first aid at the scene.

An ambulance arrived to take the girl to Gozo General Hospital.

In a statement, local police say the girl is 'suffering from serious injuries'.

The Department of Foreign Affairs says they are aware of the situation and are standing by to provide consular assistance.