Barrymore police keep 'open mind'

The dead man was found in Michael Barrymore's pool

A senior detective has taken charge of inquiries into the death of a man found unconscious in a swimming pool at TV entertainer Michael Barrymore's home.

Detective Superintendent Ian McNeill will head the investigation into Stuart Lubbock's death because of the "open nature" of the case, a police spokeswoman said.

Stuart Lubbock: Believed to have been with Mr Barrymore at nightclub

Police have questioned the television presenter about 31-year-old Mr Lubbock and plan to question friends of the dead man over the next few days.

Mr Lubbock, a wholesale butcher's supervisor from Harlow, Essex, died in hospital after being found at Mr Barrymore's home in Roydon, Essex, early on Saturday.

Following the discovery of Mr Lubbock, Mr Barrymore was admitted to a Priory clinic near Southampton, Hampshire, where he is said to have been treated for stress.

Mr Barrymore is believed to have been at the Millennium nightclub in Harlow with Mr Lubbock and two other people late on Friday.

'Sociable'

A taxi driver has told how he took Mr Barrymore and three other people to the star's home at about 0230GMT on Saturday.

Mr Lubbock was discovered unconscious, wearing only his boxer shorts, in the pool just before 0600BST on Saturday morning.

Michael Barrymore has already been questioned by police

He was taken to the Princess Alexandra Hospital in Harlow, but died two hours later despite efforts to revive him.

Neighbours described the dead man as a "pleasant, sociable" man who lived with his father Terry and brother Kevin in a terrace house in Great Brays, near Harlow.

He is believed to have a daughter aged two, but had split from the mother of the child.

Police have said Mr Barrymore will probably be questioned again before the end of the month, after the results of toxicology tests.