A TOWN council is investigating after leeches were discovered in a splash play area for children at a popular Yate park.

Several parents reported their children were covered in the blood-sucking worms after playing in the water feature at Kingsgate Park yesterday.

Mums took to Facebook page Things to do with kids in Bristol to warn others about the leeches after taking their children to the park during the first week of the school summer holidays.

Tina Sheppard said: “Warning - we've been for a lovely play date today at Kingsgate park in Yate but when the kids came out of the water their feet were covered in leeches. Please be aware.”

Ann Sheppard added: “The water was definitely not clean.

“The area at the top and at the bottom was gross, I tried my best to keep my children out of that part and just let them play in the stream part.

“All the children we were there with yesterday were covered in leeches and the place emptied with minutes. Everyone was a bit freaked out I think.

"I've contacted the council to make them aware so hopefully they will clean it or at least put a warning up so people are aware.”

The park is managed by Yate Town Council, which said it had never heard of leeches being found in the water feature since it was installed in 2011.

A spokesman said: "We have received reports from members of the public this morning advising that leeches have been found in the water feature in Kingsgate Park, Yate.

"We would like to thank those members of the public for bringing this to our attention.

"In the six years that we have had the very popular feature in our beautiful park we have never had leeches there to our knowledge.

"On investigation we have been informed by Environmental Health Department at South Gloucestershire Council that leeches are a natural phenomenon and are not harmful in anyway or a danger to public health, although we appreciate that they may appear unpleasant.

"We are investigating our options in managing the situation and will update the public with signage in the park and on our website of any proposed actions."

Another parent, Rachel Robinson, said she had not experienced any problems in the park.

“My daughters were in the water all afternoon with their childminder and lots of other children and their childminder said how clean the water was, they didn’t see any," she said.

"I live in Yate and my girls are always in there, have never seen any.”