Teacher questioned after pupil drowns

Daniel was in a party of 24 pupils taking part in a supervised session

Police investigating the death of a boy at a school swimming pool in County Durham, have interviewed a teacher.

Daniel Readshaw, 13, from Ferryhill, died after getting into difficulties during a supervised swimming session at St John's comprehensive school in Bishop Auckland on 18 December.

Earlier the same week a council was fined £20,000 over the death of his 13-year-old sister, who also drowned in a swimming pool tragedy.

A spokesman for Durham Police said a woman teacher, who is in her 20s, was questioned for four hours by detectives on Tuesday at Bishop Auckland police station.

The spokesman said the woman was accompanied by her solicitor.

Declared dead

He added that the direction of the investigation into Daniel's death would not be known until the results of a post-mortem examination in the new year.

The force said it had sought advice from the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS).

Daniel was in a party of 24 pupils taking part in a supervised swimming session when tragedy struck.

He was pulled clear of the water, but despite efforts by staff and paramedics was declared dead shortly after arriving at Bishop Auckland General Hospital.

A police spokesman said at the time that there was "nothing to suggest Daniel's death was suspicious in any way".

Daniel's sister, Anne-Marie died in the swimming pool at Spennymoor Leisure Centre in September 2001.

Sedgefield Borough Council, which operates the facility, was fined £20,000 for failing to ensure her safety.