PLAIN clothes police officers will patrol a nature reserve after an increase in reports of sexual activity.

Police will be conducting patrols at Weston Hills in Baldock during spring and summer as a result of members of the public reporting suspicious behaviour in the woods.

An anonymous letter was sent in to the Comet last month citing one incident of “a man dressed in a yodelling outfit being led around on a chain by another man.”

Signs have also been put up by North Herts District Council at the car park in Hatch Lane forbidding anti-social behaviour.

Safer Neighbourhoods Sergeant Jon Vine said: “This kind of behaviour is totally unacceptable in a public environment, not to mention illegal.

“We will work alongside North Herts District Council to ensure that dog walkers, walkers and families are able to use the woods and conservation area without trepidation.

“Plain clothes officers will be conducting patrols in the area over the coming months and anyone caught acting in an inappropriate manner will run the risk of arrest for outraging public decency.

“We would also ask any members of the public to immediately report anything suspicious by calling the non-emergency number 101. In an emergency, always ring 999.”