Police have been called to Watford town centre’s pond to break up fights in the water, stop illegal fishing and prevent children playing on the ice in the last three years.

Figures released by Hertfordshire Constabulary show officers have attended the water feature, in The Parade, 12 times since January 2009.

The pond is maintained by Watford Borough Council and has wildlife living in it.

According to the figures, in 2009 police were called to four pond related incidents. These included a man and child fishing and other children trying to steal the fish.

In August 2009, officers were called to two men fighting in the pond.

There were six calls to the pond in 2010 including two for men urinating into the water, one for males and a female jumping into the pond and a man and child fishing there together.

In December that year police were also called there to a stop girls walking on the ice.

The waters of the pond were left undisturbed throughout 2011 with no call-outs but so far this year, police have attended twice to deal with children playing on the ice.