Lyceum Government pre-school in Hamilton Parish.

In recent months no less than four young pupils have climbed the school playground's solitary tree, only to find they couldn't get down. And on three occasions firefighters have had to race to the rescue -- the latest emergency dash occurring this week.

"It seems the tree started grabbing children last September,'' head teacher Mrs. Liris Hodgson said yesterday.

"Before then the only problem we had was children falling out of it.'' Although just 12-foot tall, the tree has proved a constant source of pleasure ... and pain. Its latest victim was Bermuda Sun business editor Mr. Roger Scotton's son Ian, who was snared during morning break on Wednesday.

Five-year-old Ian had been climbing the tree -- the only thing to play on in his playground -- when his foot got squeezed between two branches.

"I tried to lift him out but he said I was hurting his foot,'' Mrs. Hodgson said, adding the other children suggested she call 911.

Some 20 minutes later -- because of a delay due to an emergency exercise on Front Street, Hamilton -- a fire engine followed by an ambulance screamed up Wilkinson Avenue equipped with special gear to pry the branches apart.

Within seconds a tearful Ian was rescued and taken to hospital "in case his circulation had been temporarily cut off,'' Mrs. Hodgson said.

However, he was none the worse from the ordeal and was back climbing the tree yesterday.

"I know I won't get stuck this time because they chopped off the branch,'' he said confidently.

Added Mrs. Hodgson: "It's the third time we've had to call the Fire Service to rescue a child stuck in that tree. It's going to make my hair go grey.'' She recalled how back in September she discovered the tree's first victim dangling upside down with his ankle jammed between two boughs. On that occasion she was able to free the boy from the tree's clasp herself.

However, five-year-olds Justin Cann and Chantelle Mills were not so lucky.

Both had to be rescued by firemen after being "grabbed'' by the tree earlier this year.

"I was the first to get stuck and be rescued by a fire engine,'' pointed out Justin.

Mrs. Hodgson said each time a child had got stuck it had been in a different part of the tree and firemen had severed the troublesome branches on each occasion.

"But it just keeps branching out,'' she said.

Mrs. Hodgson said the Education Department had recommended chopping the tree down before a child is seriously injured.

"It would be a shame because it is their favourite tree,'' she said. "But a serious accident could occur.

"It has been a good learning experience for the children -- they learnt firemen don't just put out fires and it isn't just cats who get stuck in trees.'' CHILD TRAP -- Youngsters at the Lyceum Government pre-school in Hamilton Parish climb the tree which has become a playground accident spot. Pictured (from left): Justin Cann, 5, Chantelle Mills, 5, and Ian Scotton, 5, all of whom have had to be rescued by firemen after getting a foot jammed between the tree's gnarled branches.