A seven-year-old boy died and 17 people, including his parents and police officers, were taken to hospital after falling ill in a flood-hit town.

A seven-year-old boy has died in hospital after being taken unwell along with two adults, police have said.

Severe thunderstorms packing large hail and tornadoes have rumbled across the United States’ midsection, killing at least eight people and damaging dozens of homes.