The mother of a girl (3) who drowned in a hotel swimming pool near Blackpool in in north-west England has been arrested on suspicion of murder.

The youngster is believed to have been staying with her parents at the Dalmeny Hotel, St Annes, when she got into difficulty in the water on Thursday morning.

She was pulled from the swimming pool and taken to Royal Manchester Children's Hospital in a critical condition but died later.

The hotel owner Chris Webb said that several other guests witnessed what happened in the pool and gave statements to the police.

He has made this statement.

Two guests tried to revive the girl before paramedics arrived. It is understood that the girl's mother was in the pool at the time.

Police confirmed a woman (40), from Galashiels, Scotland, was arrested on suspicion of murder and child neglect. She remains in police custody.

Witness Carole Greenwood, who has lifeguard qualifications, says she tried to rescue the child.

A guest called Darren, who did not want to give his surname, also said he had seen the little girl and her family having dinner at the hotel the night before.

"I saw them come out of the ambulance with what looked like a defibrillator," he said. "My daughter saw the little girl being carried out by somebody."

He said the pool had been shut and "lots of police" had been at the hotel. He described how he later saw the girls mother being led away by officers.

Detective Inspector Nick Connaughton, of Blackpool CID, said "This is a tragic situation where a young girl has lost her fight for life. We are now treating this sad death as suspicious and are investigating just how the child came into difficulties in the pool."

The Dalmeny Hotel, which overlooks St Annes beach, is described as a family-friendly resort with a heated indoor pool, a spa and three restaurants.

The hotel refused to comment.

Originally published 09:18