Children had to evacuate a fun pool when a man infected with a potentially lethal virus bled into the water.

A swimmer at the Sovereign Centre, Royal Parade, Eastbourne, reported to lifeguards with a nose bleed and told them he carried the liver damaging Hepatitis C.

Staff handed him swabs to stem the bleeding and alerted the pool manager.

The pool was closed when some of the man's blood was found in the water.

One member of the public said swimmers were told the reason for the closure was a "chemical imbalance".

This has not been confirmed by Eastbourne Borough Council, which runs the pool.

A council spokesman said: "No members of the public or staff were put at risk.

"Tests were carried out first thing on Tuesday morning by environmental health officers and due to the overnight cleaning and chlorine in the pool the area was given the all clear.

"The council always makes sure the health and safety of the public is the highest priority."

Chemicals from the pool were believed to kill the virus when it came into contact with water.

Hepatitis C can be caught through contact with infected blood and symptoms, which include poor appetite, sickness and aching muscles, can start between one and six months after infection.