Leisure centre operator, Leisure Connection, has been ordered to pay out £190,000 after a seven-year-old girl drowned at one of their pools in 2008.

Michelle Gellard died at the Blackwater Leisure Centre in Maldon after she went swimming with other children following a judo competition.

A jury returned a verdict of accidental death at an inquiry in 2011.

A lifeguard and a swimmer pulled out Michelle but staff were unable to resuscitate her and she was flown to Colchester General Hospital where she was pronounced dead.

The inquest into her death heard how there were only two lifeguards poolside moments before Michelle drowned, despite the centre's rules stating there should be four. By the time she was pulled from the water there were three lifeguards on duty.

The firm admitted failing to ensure the safety of a member of the public at Chelmsford Crown Court in October.Leisure Connection was fined £90,000 with additional legal costs of £101,663.