Police are looking into reports of the 'sinister' placement of cameras close to a public park where children play.
The force has received reports that a camera was placed in bushes in Queens Park in the Meols area of Wirral.
The complaint appears to have been made after a post was published in a local blog that has been posting about a row over beaches in the Hoylake area.
There is fierce debate in the town over the management of the beach, and whether or not the beach should be raked or sprayed to remove vegetation.
The beach has not been raked since 2019 when there was huge controversy over the its brief closure due to the spraying of glyphosate.
But some locals believe action is needed to remove the vegetation and keep the beach sandy.
The Ilovehoylake blog describes itself as representing 'the silent majority sticking up for Hoylake's beautiful golden beach' and posts regularly about the ongoing debate regarding the beach, describing those on the other side of the argument as 'swampies.'
On April 27 the blog uploaded a post entitled 'Mystery of the middle-of-the-night-meddler' which included an image of a man captured on camera but with his face obscured.
The post explained that the image had been taken near to the entrance of Queens Park in the Meols area at 2.10am and said the person pictured 'appeared to be trying to meddle with and remove things near the park in the dead of night.'
It is not known which camera this image was taken from or why it was placed there - but the issue has now been reported to the police.
It is also not known at this stage how the incident - or the camera - may relate to the ongoing row over the beach, although stickers with messages on about the beach row have been spotted around the park.
A Merseyside Police spokesman said: "We can confirm we received a report a camera had been placed in bushes in Queens Park, Meols.
"The report was made after an image of a man in the park was posted on social media.
"Enquiries are ongoing to establish the full circumstances and identify if any criminal offences have been committed."
The issue has also been raised by Wirral Council, with a cabinet member describing the potential placement of a camera in the area as 'sinister.'
Cllr Paul Stuart, Wirral Labour's spokesperson for Children, Young People and Education, said: “It is worrying that someone should be doing this.
"Whatever their motives are, this is a public park used and enjoyed by children and families, and the thought that someone is covertly recording them is something that will understandably put people off using this free outdoor facility.
"I would urge the police to investigate this matter thoroughly and to identify and take appropriate action against whoever is behind this sinister and unacceptable act.”
The ECHO has attempted to contact the creators of the ilovehoylake blog for more information or a response.
