If you were wondering why there were crowds of people wandering around Gloucester staring at their phones, it's because they were looking for a rare green, shiny Swinub.

Gamers of all ages were taking part in the Pokemon Go monthly community day which was held on Saturday.

The game produces a virtual map using local landmarks from which players across the world collect different pokeman.

On Saturday they were on the look out for rare shiny green Swinub and a Palkia to add to their collections.

Players had between 10am to 1pm to find them could be seen in large groups wandering around town.

Crowds were spotted at Gloucester Cathedral and Gloucester Docks where they swarmed over a wheeled wagon parked opposite the McColls convenience store.

One of the rare Pokeman up for grabs yesterday

Standing near the wagon at allowed them to take part in a virtual raid to catch the Palkia.

Fans of all ages could be seen trying to find the little cartoon creatures to add them to their collection.

Among them was 30-year-old office administrator Lydia Hartley from Gloucester who has always collected Pokeman and never misses the Pokeman Go montly events with her boyfriend Rob.

Lydia Hartley from Gloucester who never misses the Pokeman Go community events

She admitted not everybody understood the fascination but said: “I’ve always liked collecting anyway and its a good fitness app.

"It’s more fun and cheaper than going to the gym so why not?

“It’s very social too. Today I was with a big group of people who I did not know and we all ended up talking because we had something in common.”

There was a large crowd of Pokeman Go players at the docks

Pokeman Go developer Niantic said yesterday's community event  was for “Gen 2 ground/ice type Pokemon, Swinub”,  but added that you would need a Sinnoh Stone to grow into the full evolution line available: Piloswine and Mamoswine.

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