‘Stressed’ scenes after children fell ill at camp

A police investigation is continuing after a man was arrested on suspicion of administering poison at a children’s summer camp in Leicestershire.

Eight children at the camp at Stathern Lodge, Canal Lane, were taken to hospital on Monday but have all since been discharged.

A 76-year-old man was arrested at a nearby pub on Monday evening on suspicion of administering poison or a noxious substance with intent to injure, aggrieve or annoy and he remains in custody.

Leicestershire Police said it received a report on Sunday of children feeling unwell, but did not visit the camp until Monday and had referred itself to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC).

The force said the investigation was being led by the East Midlands Special Operations Unit’s major incident team.

The IOPC confirmed it was investigating Leicestershire Police’s handling of the incident.

Neighbours described seeing stressed parents outside the village hall in nearby Plungar, which was used as a triage centre for the children on Monday.

A 28-year-old woman who lives near the village hall said: “We saw all the ambulances and police cars outside. All the kids were very guarded, they would not let anybody near it.

“Everybody was pretty stressed out. There were like four police cars, critical care teams, an ambulance, there was quite a lot. It was crazy.

“The parents were pretty stressed, they were here until probably 11pm.”

A man who also lives on the street said: “I saw maybe one girl with her dad. She had her toy with her. They were waiting around a lot.

“It was a bit surreal I guess, a bit odd because it’s quite quiet around here.”