A young girl has ended up being poisoned after she fell into a fountain in the middle of town which was contaminated with human poo.

A mere four-year-old girl has been poisoned after she fell into a town centre's fountain which was contaminated with human poo.

According to The Sun UK, the four-year-old's mother, Kimmi Foster, said her daughter developed a "40 degree temperature" after the incident in Kettering's Market Place in Northamptonshire, England.

The young girl was frolicking in the water feature on August 4, because the temperature was warm.

Kids reportedly take to the fountains during the summer months.

Ms Foster said the four-year-old was fine, until she developed fever-like symptoms 48 hours later.

"She was ill for about a week and I put it on Facebook that she was poorly," Kimmi said. "My friends who were there said their kids were poorly as well and they knew of others."

Experts have only just confirmed the water was contaminated with faeces.

Tests found there to be 48 cfu (colony forming units) of enterococci per 100ml - leaving the water 'not fit for purpose'.

A spokesman for Pathology Management Services, which carried out the tests, said "The interim report was issued to highlight that there is a potential problem with this outlet.

A council spokesman said the features are regularly cleaned and the systems are flushed "twice a month".

But urging parents to make sure their children do not drink the water, the spokesman added: "The fountains in Kettering's Market Place are provided as a water feature and children play in them during the Kettering by the Sea event.

"By the very nature of the installation, this water is not, and cannot be expected to be, drinking water or to a drinking water standard.

"During the Kettering by the Sea event we are aware that there is an increased risk of contamination so back-washing is carried out daily."