A jury has returned a verdict of accidental death in the inquest of a five-year-old boy who drowned in a swimming pool during a summer birthday party in Dorset.

Callum Grant was found by his mother Christine at the bottom of a swimming pool in the grounds of the house of Gail Sharratt and John Hoeben in Queen's Park Avenue, Bournemouth, orset, on July 19 last year, the Bournemouth inquest heard.

Coroner Sheriff Payne said he wished to pass on his condolences to the family and added: 'This was a very sad state of affairs and I think we have conducted a very full inquiry into what happened.'

The inquest heard that Callum and brother Aidan, 7, had been guests at the belated seventh birthday party held for Oliver Hoeben.

It was when Mrs Grant, who has two more children with husband Raymond, came to pick up her sons that Callum's absence was noticed by brother Aidan.

Mrs Grant, of Hankinson Road, Bournemouth, told the inquest that moments later she spotted Callum lying at the bottom of the newly constructed pool.

The inquest heard that despite attempts by Ms Sharratt and Mr Hoeben to resuscitate Callum, he died and was pronounced dead at the Royal Bournemouth Hospital.

The cause of death was immersion, the two-day inquest was told.

The inquest heard that there were 12 children at the party initially supervised by three and later five adults.

The inquest was also told that when the children were told to leave the pool to play games on the lawn some did return when the pool area was not being directly supervised, although they were ordered by Ms Sharratt to leave the pool.

During the inquest the jury visited the pool and the garden to view the scene of the death for themselves.

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