Concerns after second police incident at Doncaster beauty spot in a week

Officers investigating a rape allegation had sealed off a stretch of the Waterfront at Doncaster Lakeside extending several hundred metres as they carried out investigations – just days after offices sealed off a nearby stretch of the waterfront near the marine after a body was found.

Police officers manning the barriers this morning declined to give passers by any information on today’s incident – one walker was told just that there had been an ‘incident.’

But the walkers strolling along the popular route around the lake this morning were diverted away from the waterfront just before they reached the Strata offices, where blue tape extended across the path. An officer stood guarding the scene 20 yards along the path

A further blue and white tape barrier was set up alongside the Travelodge hotel, next to the Subway sandwich shop, with an officer on guard. One nearby worker said she understood police had been there since the early hours of the morning. A final section was cordoned off next to the roundabout opposite the Premier Inn next to Lakeside Village, with an officer in an unmarked police car in front of the tape.

One walker said he found it a worry that the area had been sealed off twice in such a short space of time, after Monday’s incident.

He said: “Is it a trend? I don’t like that trend. Perhaps someone needs to take a look at what’s happening around here.”

Stan and Pat Walker from Rossington said they were regular walkers along the lake and were surprised to hear of the police there twice in such a short space of time.

“We’ve never seen anything like this here before,” said Stan. “It’s usually quiet and calm.”

Police have put out an appeal for information over the alleged rape of 24-year-old woman, which was described as happening in a wooded area close to the lake at around 10.45 last night.

Dial 101 and quote incident number 966 of October 21.

In the previous police incident at Lakeside, on Monday, a missing woman, aged 77, died in hospital after being found in water close the early hours.

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