VILLAGERS were last night expressing their sympathy for the family of a toddler who died after falling into a garden pond.

Police inquiries are continuing into the death of the 15-month-old girl, who has not been named.

Police and paramedics were called to Brotton, near Saltburn, east Cleveland, at 7.20pm on Sunday after a report that a todddler had fallen into a garden pond.

Last night, villager Doreen Rudland, said: "It is obviously just a terrible accident. It is so tragic. The parents and their family and friends must be devastated. It is just so sad."

Kay Walker, who represents Brotton on Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council, said: "It is an awful tragedy and a terrible accident.

"You can't really put anything into words - you just feel empty when you think of something like this.

"Anything to do with anyone's death is not nice and it is awful to lose someone. I really feel for them."

"But you can't watch children all the time and at that age, they are attracted to water. They get up to all sorts of things."

Fellow Brotton councillor Brian Hogg said: "Everyone in the community is saddened, but we need to remember it is a personal tragedy for the family."

Paramedics arrived at the terraced house, in Woodside, Brotton, to find the toddler unconscious. She was rushed to James Cook University Hospital in Middlesbrough where attempts were made to resuscitate her. She was later pronounced dead.

Detective Inspector Colin Galloway, who is leading the investigation, said that police were required to investigate all sudden deaths.

The family was too upset to speak about the tragedy