THE reopening of a swimming pool hours after a teenager died has been described as insensitive by her grieving family.

Anne-Marie Readshaw, 13, was on a Saturday trip to the swimming pool at Spennymoor Leisure Centre, County Durham, when tragedy struck.

The pool had been busy with young swimmers. In mid-afternoon, the girl's friends noticed Anne-Marie lying on the bottom of the pool and pulled her to the surface.

Lifeguards tried in vain to revive her at the edge of the baths before she was rushed to Bishop Auckland General Hospital, but the youngster was confirmed dead on arrival.

However, hours after Anne-Marie was pulled from the water, the pool was reopened to the public.

Her grandfather, Joe Conroy, a retired headmaster from Ferryhill, County Durham, said: "It was opened at 5pm before I'd fully identified Anne-Marie at the hospital, which I find sickening.

"I celebrated my Ruby Wedding on Sunday, but this has been the worst week in those 40 years. In fact, it has been the worst week of my life."

Anne-Marie's classmates at St John's RC Comprehensive School, Bishop Auckland, were also left distraught by their friend's death.

The school described the Ferryhill girl as a "quiet, but extremely popular" pupil, who was a promising young athlete. She had been a district champion at 200m and a potential future champion.

Sedgefield Borough Council confirmed the leisure centre had been reopened later on the day of her death.

Head of leisure services Phil Ball sent letters expressing his condolences to Anne-Marie's family and to the families of the girls who were with her at the time of her death.

A spokesman said: "Obviously everyone is still stunned and distraught at Saturday's events."

The inquest into Anne-Marie's death was opened at Bishop Auckland Magistrates' Court yesterday. Mr Conway told the inquest that his granddaughter had passed out on two occasions earlier in the year, but there had been no cause established.

Consultant pathologist Dr Anthony Senadhira said he had not yet completed his examinations into the cause of death and the inquest was adjourned.