POLICE investigating the death of a teenager in a school swimming session spent the weekend questioning pupils who were with him in the pool.

Daniel Readshaw, whose sister Anne-Marie died in a swimming tragedy two years ago, was one of two dozen students in the pool at St John's RC School, in Bishop Auckland, when he got into difficulties last Thursday lunch-time.

Despite frantic efforts to revive him, he was pronounced dead at Bishop Auckland General Hospital.

Health and safety experts have worked with detectives on an inquiry launched immediately after the tragedy.

A CID team at Bishop Auckland police station have been interviewing all the children swimming with Daniel, who was 13 and lived in Ferryhill.

His family have called for a thorough investigation because of his sister's death. Anne-Marie, also 13, died in a swimming pool incident at Spennymoor Leisure Centre in 2001.

They fear a hidden hereditary condition may be behind the deaths and are concerned for their other children - Catherine, aged ten, who is being treated for leukaemia in a Newcastle hospital, Nicole, 11, and Rachel, six.

On Sunday, Daniel was remembered in prayers at All Saints' Church, Ferryhill, where his parents Iain and Marie, and grandparents Joe and Kath Conroy are part of a close-knit parish community.

Priest Fr Brian Murphy said emotions were raw. He said: "The family are very much part of our community.

"They are lovely people and our thoughts are with them. It is a very difficult time."

A family friend said: "The family have a strong faith and that will get them through. No one can believe this has happened or imagine what they are suffering."

The school held a special mass in Daniel's memory last week and pupils and staff were offered counselling and support.

A inquest has been opened and adjourned but Daniel's funeral is not expected to take place until next week.

Fr Murphy, said: "I, like everyone I have spoken to, couldn't believe that the same thing could happen to one family. The community is also finding it difficult to comprehend, people feel bewildered.

"There is a tremendous sense of sympathy and compassion for the family.

"I hope they are able to find comfort knowing that there is a great outpouring of love at this time and for the future."

Fr Murphy added: "The family are fantastically close, which will help them cope with hard times, as it has in the past. I cannot speak highly enough of them, they are very well respected, good people.

"I am confident that their faith will also help them. The people of this parish are all holding them in their hearts."

Prime Minister Tony Blair joined a host of well-wishers to send his sympathy to them and Daniel's family. Mr Blair broke off from a busy round of engagements across the North-East to say: "My thoughts and prayers are with the family at this very sad time.

"I was very sorry to hear of the tragedy and can only offer my sympathy to those who knew Daniel."

The Readshaws are uppermost in the minds of many people in Ferryhill.

Thomas Harbron, who runs a shop near the family home, said: "I couldn't believe it really. It is on everyone's minds.

"We hoped it wasn't true at first, prayed that people had got their wires crossed because of what had happened to Anne-Marie."

Mother-of-five Katrina Sutherland, 31, of Ferryhill, said: "It was absolutely chilling news. For one family to suffer so much heartache is hard to understand."

Newsagent worker Michelle Dunn said: "This is a close community, so just about everyone knew about it the same day. Every single person who I've spoken to about it is still in shock."

Daniel's grandmother, Kath Conroy, said the kind words of so many people had already been of great comfort to the family.

She said: "Catherine has hardly been out of hospital since August, so all of our energy has to go on helping her to get better and supporting the other children. But it does help to know so many people are thinking of us."

* Sedgefield Borough Council, which runs the Spennymoor Leisure Centre pool where Anne-Marie died, has been fined £20,000 with £7,242 costs following an investigation into her death which resulted in prosecution by the Health and Safety Executive.

The council admitted failing to meet health and safety guidelines.