Verdicts of accidental death have been recorded on two girls who drowned in the swimming pool at a holiday village near Callington.

The verdicts, on l9-year-old Vanessa Gregson and seven-year-old Tshan Kamara, both of Liverpool, were recorded by coroner, Dr David Bruce, following a three-day inquest at Bodmin last week.

The girls were on holiday at the camp last May, and the inquest was told that qualified lifeguards were only employed at the pool at peak times.

It was suggested that Miss Gregson, who was found to have a bruise on her head, may have fallen and stunned herself at some stage. Staff pulled the girls from the water, but were unable to revive them. They were flown to Derriford Hospital, Plymouth, where Miss Gregson was pronounced dead. Tshan's parents, Darren Kamara and Sharon Wong, agreed two days later to her life support system being switched off.

Dr Bruce said that if a competent and watchful lifeguard had been on duty there was every likelihood that he or she may have been able to have saved one, if not both, of the lives. Miss Gregson's mother, Cheryl, also highlighted the fact that the pool had no lifeguards at many times. Emphasis was also placed, during the inquest, on a steep gradient in the pool.

Caradon council, who had carried out inspections at Honicombe, released a statement after the inquest in which they said they were proposing to serving a prohibition notice preventing the pool from being operated in its current condition. A spokesman said: 'Following the comments of the coroner the council will be looking carefully at all the issues raised.

'The council notes the evidence of Mr Simms, the independent expert appointed by the coroner. Mr Simms considered that the council had given advice in accordance with the established guidance at the time and supported the council's action of recommending comprehensive poolside safety arrangements. The two inspections carried out by the council in l996 and l 998 were in accordance with accepted practices at that time.

'The coroner criticised the gradient of the pool, but heard evidence that the council could not be expected, in all the circumstances, to check it. The council notes that the gradient had in fact been changed from the original plans.

The extent of the gradient and the danger it caused only became apparent when it was inspected by expert police divers who were able to take precise measurements of the pool.

'The council strongly supports the recommendations of the coroner that holiday swimming pools should be subject to a system of statutory licensing.