A man armed with a hatchet has killed four children after he attacked a nursery in Brazil.

At least three others are injured and have been taken to hospital.

The man has been arrested in the southern city of Blumenau.

Local media reports that the attacker scaled a wall to enter the nursey, named Cantinho do Bom Pastor.

Santa Catarina state’s governor Jorginho Mello confirmed the killings in the city of Blumenau on his Twitter account.

The state’s firefighters unit confirmed the man attacked his victims with a hatchet and that three children were taken to hospital.

Attacks on schools and nurseries are uncommon in Brazil but have occurred more often in recent years.

Last week, a student in Sao Paulo stabbed a teacher, killing her, and also wounded several others.

Blumenau, a city of 366,000 people, is famous for its annual Oktoberfest festival.