A children's pool was evacuated after two people, including a five year old child, were slashed by glass.

The area at Temple Cowley Pools was shut and swimmers ordered out last night after glass was found by the steps.

Stephanie Hale, of Norham Road, Oxford, said she was playing with her 20-month old son Cormac when she felt something sharp on her hand.

"I felt on the step and I found this sharp thing," she said.

"I had to lever it out and there was a piece of glass about half an inch long. I took it to the lifeguard who said someone else had cut their foot. Then they evacuated the pool."

Mrs Hale said she later heard a little boy had cut himself as well.

"Someone had done it deliberately, if you ask me. It was right by where children are likely to hang around," she added.

"My little boy was not cut, thankfully, but he was inches away from where I was when I found the glass."

Pools manager Matt Williamson confirmed the children's pool had been evacuated for about half an hour while the pool was cleaned out. He said: "How any glass got in there I am not sure. There was nothing broken in the area.

"A small child had a slight cut to his left heel. The duty manager cleaned the child up and investigated but could not find anything."

Temple Cowley Pools was shut from February to May this year for a major £250,000 facelift, mainly revamping the changing rooms.

Previous news story

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.