TWO people have been arrested after claims a child was ‘dragged through Bridgwater’.

At just before 4pm on Monday, August 5, police received a call from passers-by who saw a young boy in distress with a man and a woman in Cornhill.

Officers were sent to the scene, where the 12-year-old youngster told them he had been grabbed by the man in Albert Street and dragged across the Broadway and as far as Cornhill.

Inspector Sarah Knight, of the Bridgwater neighbourhood policing team, said: “We’re taking this incident very seriously and it’s being investigated by detectives.

“The child is safe with his family and, while shocked and upset, thankfully he wasn’t badly hurt.

“We’re very grateful to the members of the public who quickly realised something wasn’t right, intervened and called 999.

“We’re also aware of inaccurate claims being made on social media, and there is no evidence to support them.

“This is of course a concerning incident, but I’d like to reassure you that there have been no other such incidents reported.”

A man in his 60s and a woman in her 40s, both of no fixed abode, were arrested on the evening of Thursday, August 8, and remain in police custody.

“It’s important that nothing is shared online which could prejudice any future court case,” an Avon & Somerset Police spokesperson added, as various rumours circulated in the community.

Anyone with information that could help the investigation should contact police on 101 and give the reference 5224204812.