Girl, 6, drowns in hotel pool

A six-year-old British girl has drowned in a hotel swimming pool on the Spanish holiday island of Gran Canaria.

Megan Thrower was reportedly on a week-long autumn break with her family when the tragedy happened yesterday.

A Foreign Office spokeswoman said: "We are aware of the death of a British national in Playa del Ingles, Gran Canaria, on October 17.

"We are offering consular assistance to the family."

A member of staff at the four star Hotel Gran Canaria Princess, where Megan drowned, said she could not comment on whether a lifeguard was on duty by the pool at the time of the accident.

A spokeswoman for tour operator Thomson said: "Thomson regrets to confirm that one of its customers died yesterday following a tragic accident while on holiday in Gran Canaria.

"We would like to offer our sincere condolences to the family of the deceased at what must be a truly difficult time.

"Our resort staff continue to offer every support and assistance to the family involved.

"However, in the interests of customer confidentiality, we are not at liberty to provide any further details at this time."

The family, reportedly from King's Lynn in Norfolk, had checked into the seven-floor hotel situated 1km from the beach on the south of the island.

The accommodation has 434 rooms, large pools and a range of facilities for children.