A one-year-old baby girl has died after being hit by a Land Rover in a church car park after a bible reading in Scotland. 

Emergency services rushed to the Plymouth Brethren meeting hall in the village of Balmedie, Aberdeenshire, at 7.45pm on Wednesday. 

The child was taken to Aberdeen Royal Infirmary but died shortly after. The 40-year-old man driving the car was uninjured, police have said.  

Plymouth Brethren church told BBC Scotland that the accident happened after a bible reading at the hall and that the baby killed was part of its 'vibrant local community'. 

It remains unclear whether the baby was in a pram or not when she was hit by the Land Rover. 

A one-year-old baby girl has died after being hit by a Land Rover in a church car park in Scotland

Emergency services rushed to the Plymouth Brethren meeting hall in the village of Balmedie, Aberdeenshire, at 7.45pm on Wednesday

The church said in a statment: 'We are a very supportive church, and we are giving the family and friends of the people involved in the accident the help they need.'

The spokesperson also thanked members of the emergency services who attended the incident. 

On its website Plymouth Brethren Christian Church describes itself as a community of more than 50,000 members across Australia, New Zealand, Europe, the Americas (including the Caribbean) and the UK.

It adds that the church is 'deeply family-oriented and and members live, work and pray as "Brethren"'. 

A heavy police presence was at the scene on Wednesday night and Police Scotland has launched an investigation into the collision. 

This map shows Balmedie in Aberdeenshire where the one-year-old girl was hit by the Land Rover

A heavy police presence was at the scene on Wednesday night and Police Scotland has launched an investigation into the collision

Inspector Scott Deans, from Police Scotland, said: 'At this time, our thoughts are with the family of the deceased, along with everyone else affected by this tragic incident.

'Our investigation into the circumstances remain ongoing and we'd like to thank the wider Balmedie community for their patience and understanding as officers carry out their enquiries in the area.

'Anyone with information should contact police on 101, quoting incident 3390 of 15 May, 2024.'