Convicted paedophile and former football coach Barry Bennell has been taken to hospital after being found unconscious.

The 62-year-old has been named by a handful of former players as the man who allegedly abused them as children.

Today, Thames Valley Police confirmed that officers were called to a "welfare incident" at an address in Knebworth Park, Stevenage on Friday.

According to The Telegraph, a police spokesman said: "Police officers attended an address in Knebworth Park, Stevenage just before 11pm on Friday in connection with a fear for welfare incident.

"A 62-year-old man was located and was taken to hospital to receive medical treatment, where he remains."

Former professional footballers Andy Woodward and Steve Walters have publicly stated that Bennell abused them while they were part of the youth setup at Crewe Alexandra.

Former Manchester City player David White has also named Bennell as his abuser, while Paul Stewart has come forward about suffering abuse under an unnamed coach.

Four police forces are investigating the claims of historical abuse, while the English Football Association is also looking into the allegations after 20 players came forward about being victims of similar crimes.

In 1994, Bennell was sentenced to four years in prison for raping a British boy on a football tour of Florida, and in 1998 he was given a nine-year sentence for 23 offences against boys aged between nine and 15.

The ex-football coach was convicted again in 2015 after admitting to abusing a boy at a camp in Macclesfield in 1980.