Five people are dead and 40 adults and children were injured after a SUV car ploughed into a Christmas parade crowd in the US.

The driver of a red sport SUV car had sped into the crowd at Waukesha Christmas Parade, which is 20 miles west of Milwaukee. Video footage captured by eyewitnesses appear to show the car speeding towards a marching band and dance troupes. In other videos, police appear to open fire at the vehicle which had crashed through street barriers.

It is estimated that the car was travelling at a speed of around 40mph when it had hit the crowd. According to eyewitness, Tyler Kotlarek, the car "bombed through" and was "going from side to side, targeting people". Ambulances and police had rushed to the scene. The adults and children injured were immediately rushed to hospital and some were taken by family members.

Residents were told to "shelter in place" by police. Carroll University in Waukesha went into lockdown until the threat was declared over.

Corey Montiho, a Waukesha school district board member, said that he had made eye contact with the driver who was "calm and composed". His daughter's dance team had been hit. "They were pom-poms and shoes and spilled hot chocolate everywhere. I had to go from one crumpled body to the other to find my daughter."

The town's police chief, Dan Thompson, said: "Some of the individuals were children and there are some fatalities as a result of this incident. We're working with the families, that is our priority in this tragic incident."

A person of interest was in custody and the vehicle had been recovered by police. Public schools have been closed for Monday and roads are to remain closed for another 24 hours.