THE family of a young girl who died at a council swimming pool are hoping for answers when an inquest into her death begins next week.

Michelle Gellard was seven years old when she died in the pool at Blackwater Leisure Centre, Maldon, on June 14 2008.

The inquest is expected to last nine days, starting on Monday at the Essex Records Office in Chelmsford. Coroner Caroline Beasley-Murray will hear evidence from the lifeguards on duty, Maldon District Council, the Gellard family, the St John Ambulance and Leisure Connection, which manages the pool.

Mark Gellard, Michelle's father, said: "My partner and I are still grieving for our daughter. She was our pride and joy. She always brought a smile to our faces and it is hard knowing we will never again get to hold our daughter and tell her that we love her. She will never be forgotten. “We don't want this to happen to another child. It the most heartbreaking thing to go though and we hope that lessons are learnt from this.”

Family solicitor Peter Todd said: "This case potentially has significant implications for all those involved in lifeguarding or managing a swimming pool, and for parents of children using a pool.

"It is important lessons are learned to ensure this particularly distressing tragedy never happens again.”