Detectives are investigating the deaths of two guests at a hotel in Essex.

Officers were called to Down Hall Country House Hotel in Matching Road, Hatfield Heath, at about 7.35pm on Saturday following reports that a man and a woman had been found under water in the hotel’s swimming pool.

Hotel staff and ambulance crews tried in vain to revive the man and woman but both were later pronounced dead at the scene.

Officers from the Kent and Essex Serious Crime Directorate are investigating and are treating the deaths as unexplained at this stage.

The man who was in his 30s and the woman, who was in her 20s, are believed to be from the London area.

Post mortem examinations are to be carried out tomorrow.

Chief Inspector Nick Lee told reporters at Great Dunmow police station this afternoon that the victims were staying at the hotel together.

“As part of the investigation we are trying to focus on what the relationship was between the victims,” he said.

He said police were not currently looking for any other parties in connection with the incident.

Asked if the victims had been going to any of the functions taking place at the hotel, he said: “It’s a very busy hotel, there were a number of functions going on.

“At the moment we haven’t ascertained as to whether these individuals were part of any function or not.”