British toddler drowns in Spanish pool

A British toddler has drowned in her mother's swimming pool in Spain, police said today.

Gabriela Louisa Manning, aged two, fell in the pool on Saturday afternoon while her mother was inside the house with her partner and the girl's twin brother.

The tragedy happened at the family's home in Benitatxell, Alicante, in the south-east of the country, where the mother and her children were residents.

A local police spokeswoman said: "On Saturday at 5pm we received a call from a British woman who said her two-year-old daughter had fallen into the swimming pool.

"An ambulance was called and when emergency services arrived at the scene the girl was unconscious.

"Efforts were made to resuscitate her but they were unsuccessful.

"Police are investigating the incident."

The girl's mother was distraught, she added.

A Foreign Office spokeswoman said: "We are aware of the death of a British national on August 14 in Benitatxell. We are offering consular assistance to the family."