A leisure centre was evacuated and a number of people were taken to hospital following a “strong smell of chlorine” from a pool. Emergency services were called to the Abbey Leisure Complex in Whitehill Road, Cambridge, just after 11.15am on Saturday morning.

Greenwich Leisure Limited (GLL), which manages the site, confirmed the leisure centre was evacuated “as a precaution” after “reported physical effects caused by a strong smell of chlorine in the pool”. A spokesperson said: "Staff alerted Emergency Services who arrived at 11.30am and attended a number of people at the scene. Following full ventilation of the building, the Fire Brigade confirmed no risk was presented to the public and left at 12.30pm.”

The spokesperson said the centre fully reopened at 2.30pm.

“We apologise to customers for any inconvenience," they added.

Teenagers were reportedly seen coughing during a swimming lesson at the Abbey Leisure Complex.

They got out of the water after completing a lap and were seen coughing by a BBC reporter who was at the centre with family, the broadcaster said.

A Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue spokesperson confirmed to CambridgeshireLive that a “number of casualties” were taken to hospital as a precaution.

The spokesperson said: “Firefighters were called to an incident at the leisure complex on Whitehill Road in Cambridge at 11.16am today.

“Working with ambulance crews and staff at the centre, the crews made the area safe following an issue with swimming pool, which resulted in it being temporarily closed.

"They assisted with a number of casualties that were taken to hospital for precautionary treatment. The crews have left the scene and centre is now fully open."