THE devastated grandmother of a "little angel" who drowned in a garden pond has described the moment she disappeared.

Carol Randall, 46, of Brotton, east Cleveland, told how 15-month-old Katie drowned after she went missing for only a few minutes.

The alarm was raised at 7.20pm on Sunday, August, 28, after Katie was pulled from the pond at her home at Woodside, Brotton.

She was taken unconscious to Middlesbrough's James Cook University Hospital, where staff fought to save her.

Ms Randall said: "She was only gone for three or four minutes, but that was all it took.

"No one could have thought such a small pond could harm anyone, but no one can watch children for every minute of the day.

"It was a terrible accident. We have hearts like lead. People have no idea what pain this causes to the parents and family."

Katie's parents, Julie Johnson and Danny Randall, are distraught at their loss, as are her six half-sisters and one half brother, aged five to 14.

Ms Randall said: "Katie was full of life, fun and energy. She was her daddy's little girl and was always on his shoulders and she loved dancing.

"She was nana's little angel."

Her funeral will be held at St Margaret's Church, Brotton, at noon tomorrow followed by burial at Brotton cemetery.

The family have asked those attending not to wear black.

An inquest into Katie's death has been opened and adjourned at Middlesbrough.

The pond she fell in, which was only a few inches deep, has been filled in.