A Cumbria police officer has admitted attempting to incite sexual activity with a child.

Nicholas Pool, 29, from the Penrith area, pleaded guilty to three charges at Carlisle Crown Court today.

These were that on three separate dates last year he attempted to cause/incite a girl aged under 13 to engage in sexual activity.

One of the charges relates to November 27. The other two refer to incidents on December 11 and 12. A previous hearing heard one of the offences was in Penrith, with two in Ulverston.

Today's brief hearing, in which Pool spoke only to confirm his name and enter his pleas, took place before Cumbria's most senior judge, Peter Davies.

He adjourned the case until March 8, but barristers for both the prosecution and defence agreed that Pool, who showed little emotion during today's proceedings, would not be ready for sentence on that day.

No application for bail was made and he was remanded in custody.

After he appeared before magistrates, Cumbria police confirmed that he was an officer with the force but was suspended from the constabulary.