THE jury in the trial of a nursery worker accused of the manslaughter of a three-year-old girl today (Thursday, January 16) visited the place where she died.

Jurors saw a reconstructed set-up of the outdoor play area at York College nursery where Lydia Bishop was fatally entangled in a rope on a slide.

Mr Justice Coulson told the jurors that "every effort has been made to recreate it as it was" on the day Lydia died, September 17, 2012 - her first day at the nursery.

Before they left Leeds Crown Court, he told them each juror will have the chance to sit on a bench positioned where nursery employee Sophee Redhead told police she was sitting when Lydia went to the slide.

They also saw a bench and trolley positioned as similar items were placed to prevent children going to the slide unsupervised.

Ms Redhead, 25, of Wenham Road, Acomb, denies the manslaughter of Lydia.

Both she and York College deny breaching health and safety regulations.

Earlier, Robert Smith QC, for the prosecution, told the jury an internal college audit gave the nursery's health and safety work a Grade 1 or "outstanding" ranking 18 months before Lydia's death.

In a solicitor's statement to police after she died, the college principal Dr Alison Burkinshaw said health and safety matters were dealt with effectively, procedures were implemented and regularly reviewed.

There were also daily "walk past" checks.

Mr Smith alleged: "The prosecution say that in fact the state of affairs that existed at the nursery and which had existed for a considerable time was one of non-compliance with the control measures identified in this risk assessment relating to the use of ropes."

The trial continues.