THE REOPENING of a swimming pool just hours after a teenager died has been described as insensitive by her grieving family.

Anne-Marie Readshaw, 13, was on a Saturday trip to the swimming pool at Spennymoor Leisure Centre, County Durham, when tragedy struck.

The pool had been busy with young swimmers, but mid-afternoon the girl's friends noticed Anne-Marie lying on the bottom of the pool and pulled her to the surface. Lifeguards then tried in vain to revive her from the edge of the baths before she was rushed to Bishop Auckland General Hospital, but the youngster was confirmed dead on arrival mid-afternoon.

Just hours after Anne-Marie had been pulled from the water, the pool was reopened to the public.

Her grandfather, Joe Conroy, a retired headmaster from Ferryhill, County Durham, said: "It was opened at 5pm before I'd fully identified Anne-Marie at the hospital, which I find sickening.

"I celebrated my Ruby Wedding on Sunday, but this has been the worst week in those 40-years. Infact it has been the worst of my life."

Anne-Marie's school friends at St John's RC Comprehensive in Bishop Auckland are also distraught by their friend's death.

The school described the Ferryhill girl as a quiet, but extremely popular pupil who was a promising young athlete. She had been a district champion at 200m and a potential future champion.

Sedgefield Borough Council confirmed the leisure centre had been reopened later that afternoon.

Head of leisure services Phil Ball sent letters expressing his condolences to Anne-Marie's family and the families of the girls who were with her that afternoon.

A spokesman said: "Obviously everybody is still stunned and distraught at Saturday's events."

The inquest into Anne-Marie's death was opened at Bishop Auckland Magistrates Court today.

Mr Conway told the inquest that his granddaughter had passed out on two occasions earlier in the year, but there had been no cause established.

Consultant pathologist Dr Anthony Senadhira said he had not yet completed his examinations into the cause of death and the inquest was adjourned.