A guest at the Essex hotel where two people were found dead has described the moment police surrounded the building.

Delia Ray of Mulberry Way in South Woodford, was sitting down with seven members of her family for a 50th birthday celebration meal when five police cars and an ambulance arrived at the Down Hall Country House Hotel in Hatfield Heath.

A man in his 30s and a woman in her 20s, who are believed to be from London, were found under water in the hotel’s swimming pool at 7.30pm on Saturday.

Hotel staff and ambulance crews tried to revive them, but they were pronounced dead at the scene and police are saying they are treating the deaths as unexplained.

Mrs Ray said: “We were just getting ready to have my birthday meal when five police cars and an ambulance drew up outside.

“It was very unsettling. You are sitting down having your dinner and suddenly the hotel is surrounded by police.

“All sorts of things cross your mind. I know the hotel does murder mystery evenings and we were thinking is this part of that? But then you think, 'No, it’s a bit elaborate.'”

Despite the unfolding drama, guests in the restaurant were encouraged to carry on with their meals.

Mrs Ray said: “There didn’t seem to be any air of frenzied activity. All the staff were very calm so we knew there wasn’t anyone on the loose with a gun, but it was worrying.

“My brother Charles went out for a cigarette and picked up the information that someone had died in the leisure centre, but we didn’t know the full facts and there was nothing on the news at that time.”

Mrs Ray says staff were reassuring and told guests they were safe despite the ongoing police investigation but the full extent of what had happened only became apparent when the family came down for breakfast.

Mrs Ray said: “We looked out the window and there was police tape everywhere.

“The whole place was cordoned off.”

The family had to go through a police checkpoint as they left the hotel.

“They checked the car and the registration and asked if we had stayed overnight,” said Mrs Ray.

“I asked the policeman what was going on, but he just said ‘You’ll find out soon enough.’

“It certainly wasn’t the happiest of birthdays, but that is irrelevant when you consider the tragedy that has happened here.

“My sympathies go out to the families of those people who have died. I hope police can get to the bottom of what happened.”