Eight children have been found dead at a house in Cairns in northern Queensland, say Australian police.

Police said a 34-year-old woman had been taken to hospital with stab wounds but was stable.

The details of the incident and the woman's relationship to the children, aged between 18 months and 15 years, are not yet clear.

Australian reports say the children were stabbed but police have not confirmed this.

Police said it was a "tragic event" but there was no cause for public concern.

Police have cordoned off the house and detectives are searching the yard of the property in the Manoora suburb.

Cairns Detective Inspector Bruno Asnicar told reporters he could not confirm whether the children were from the same family.

He said police currently believed there were eight children involved but "that may go up or down" as the house was searched.

Police have not yet said if they have made any arrests.

Queensland Police said in a statement they were called to a residence in Murray Street at 11.20 local time (01:20 GMT) following reports of a woman with serious injuries.

"During an examination of the residence police located the bodies of the children, all aged between 18 months and 15 years," said the statement.

It said the woman was assisting police with their investigations.

BBC/TF