Probe pledge after pool scare

Primary-age children were in the pool

Parents of schoolchildren who fled a swimming pool after a live current injured two of the pupils have been promised a thorough investigation into the incident.

Two 10-year-old girls have been recovering from electric shocks after Tuesday's incident at the local authority-run Madras College in St Andrews, Fife.

Fife Council has sought to reassure parents that it would work with the Health and Safety Executive to establish what caused the incident.

Head of Education, Alex McKay, added that the swimming pool and physical education block would remain closed until the cause has been established.

The safety of children using our facilities is paramount

Alex McKay, Fife Council

Mr McKay said: "This was an alarming incident and we can reassure parents that we will continue to work closely with the Health and Safety Executive to establish exactly what happened.

"We would also stress that there had been no previous reports of any concerns regarding the swimming pool before the incident.

"Until we know the facts, the swimming pool and physical education block will remain closed. The safety of children using our facilities is paramount."

There were 13 children from a local primary school in the council-run pool at the time.

Some of the children said they felt a tingling sensation and two children received treatment for injuries from an electrical shock after their hands became "stuck" to a metal safety rail round the pool.

Other pupils in the swimming group then tried to pull them free but the girls were only released when a swimming instructor intervened.

The swimming lesson at the pool was arranged by the Law Head Parent Teacher Association and some parents were understood to have been spectators at the session when the incident occurred.

Fife Council revealed that electrical work had been taking place in the building earlier in the day.