Police have been investigating suspicious incidents at Hitchin outdoor pool this week.

The busy pool next to Butts Close is a mecca for young and old during hot summer days, with, at times, queues stretching to the car park during heatwave weather.

However, officers have been alerted to a number of suspicious incidents earlier this week.

Both incidents allegedly took place on Tuesday, July 12, involving men acting suspiciously around children.

A person alerted staff after becoming concerned after a man spoke to a young boy around 130pm.

The man left shortly afterwards, before the boy was joined by his mother.

At approximately 3.30pm, two men were seen using their phones 'suspiciously' around the pool - but as swimming centre staff approached to investigate, the men left the pool.

A spokesperson for Hertfordshire police said: "At no time did any of these men make any physical contact with any children, and it has not yet been established whether the two incidents are connected. 

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"We are continuing our investigations today and would urge people to report any suspicious activity directly to the police as well as pool staff in the first instance, rather than posting to social media.

"We would also like to speak to anyone who was at the outdoor pool in Hitchin on Tuesday, from midday onwards, and who believes they directly witnessed anything suspicious involving children at the pool.

"Anyone with any information is asked to please contact PC Lewis Thomson via email to [email protected] or contact the non-emergency number 101, quoting reference number 299 of July 12."