First independent images of alleged chemical attack in Syria emerge

New pictures of the dead and dying continue to emerge of the apparent chemical attack in Syria. It is now estimated that close to thousand people have been killed.

ITV News has obtained the the first independent pictures from the scene of the attack in eastern Damascus.

A warning that this report from Middle East Correspondent Geraint Vincent contains distressing images including the aftermath of the alleged attack and the dead bodies of adults and children:

The race is now on to gain access to the site, as although chemical weapons experts agree there has been some kind of chemical attack, there is some dispute as to whether the attack was caused by a nerve agent.

Activists say the attack killed as many as 1,300 people.

Read: Syria conflict a fight to the death between its own people

The UN Secretary Ban Ki-moon said tonight that a delegation was being sent to Syria and called for Syria to grant permission for inspectors to access the site "without delay." In a statement, he said:

Read: UN official goes to Syria to negotiate chemical inquiry

The chemical evidence of the attack will only remain for another 12 to 24 hours which means time to establish the facts of what happened and who is responsible, is running out, as Paul Davies reports.