FIRE crews were at Bloxham School near Banbury earlier following an incident in which pupils began coughing in a swimming pool

The independent co-educational school for 11 to 18-year-olds is close to Bloxham High Street. A member of staff at the Joiners Arms pub said there were lots of fire engines at the school, while a worker at the Bloxham Fire Bar said he has seen two fire engines parked outside.

Kate Keating, a spokesman for the school, said: "At approximately 11.30am this morning, we became aware of an incident at our swimming pool, when children from a visiting school were using the facility and started coughing.

"The children were cared for by nurses from the school’s health centre and by paramedics. They were taken to hospital as a precaution, though none are displaying any visible symptoms at this stage.

"Oxfordshire Fire and Rescue were called to school and as a precaution have cordoned off the swimming pool and the surrounding area.

"No Bloxham students appear to have been affected."

This evening the school said the fire service had now left.

No-one from Oxfordshire Fire Service would comment.