Parents fear children 'poisoned' by camp tuck shop after OAP arrested at nearby pub

Eight children were taken to hospital after falling unwell at the camp in Stathern,Leicestershire,on Sunday (Picture: NEMM/SWNS)

Parents fear the tuck shop at a summer camp for disadvantaged childrenmay have been tainted with unsafe items after eight children were rushed to hospital.

A 76-year-old man was arrested at a pub nearby on suspicion of poisoning children at the summer camp in Stathern,on Sunday.

The pensioner was arrested on suspicion of administering poison/a noxious thing with intent to injure/aggrieve/annoy at the public house on Monday evening.

The camp was run by the Stathern Children’s Holiday fund which offers holidays to children from Nottingham’s socially deprived areas.

The charity called their summer camps ‘safe havens for fostering friendships,building skills,and sparking potential’.

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Start your day informed with Metro's News Updates newsletter or get Breaking News alerts the moment it happens.Residential holidays are hosted at Stathern Lodge which can hold 70 children aged 8-11.One mother,whose son was due to attend the holiday camp this week,told Metro she wanted the camp closed down.She said: ‘We’re not sure it was in the food they served or if it was in the tuck shop they ran.‘They said we were able to send £5 to each child for the tuck shop.’She added: ‘I had a phone call from the police but they couldn’t tell me anything.‘The camp should be closed down. We can’t trust anyone with our kids.’The ambulance service set up an emergency triage centre at a nearby village hall to assess all the youngsters who attended.Residents in the nearby village of Plungar described ‘chaotic’ scenes following the incident.June Grant,83,former bookings secretary at the village hall,said: ‘I live near the village hall and there were so many sirens.‘You could hear the ambulances and police cars whizzing around the village.‘It was pretty scary but such good news that the children are OK.’Another resident,who lives near the hall,said: ‘It was pretty chaotic with emergency workers running around everywhere.‘I saw a few children in tears as they walked into the hall.‘It’s like every parent’s worst nightmare.’Police at the scene at Stathern Lodge in Canal Lane (Picture: NEMM/SWNS)Detective Inspector Neil Holden said: ‘We understand the concern this incident will have caused to parents,guardians and the surrounding community.‘We are in contact with the parents and guardians of all children concerned.‘Please be reassured that we have several dedicated resources deployed and are working with partner agencies including children’s services to ensure full safeguarding is provided to the children involved.‘We also remain at the scene to carry out enquiries into the circumstances of what has happened and to continue to provide advice and support in the area.‘This is a complex and sensitive investigation and we will continue to provide updates to both parents and guardians and the public as and when we can.’A dedicated Major Incident Public Portal (MIPP) has been created and anyone with information is urged to contact the police.Due to the circumstances of the initial police response,the force has referred itself to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC).An IOPC spokesperson said: ‘We received a conduct referral on Tuesday (July 29) from Leicestershire Police relating to their handling of concerns passed to them over the wellbeing of a group of children.‘Our assessment team has examined all available evidence and concluded the matter should be independently investigated by the IOPC.‘The investigation will look at whether there were any breaches of professional behaviour – namely a failure to carry out duties and responsibilities – that resulted in a delay in Leicestershire Police’s response to what was later declared a critical incident.’