A headteacher has paid tribute to a seven-year-old girl who drowned at a swimming pool in Burgh St Peter – saying the 'whole community is affected by this terrible news'.

Debbi Flowerdew, executive headteacher at Dell Primary School, in Oulton Broad, confirmed the child that died at Waveney River Centre was a pupil at Dell Primary school.

'We offer our sincere condolences to the family at this difficult time,' she said. 'The whole community is affected by this terrible news and we are currently supporting the family and other children and families from the school.'

Yesterday, a preliminary post mortem examination found that the girl, who was pulled from the water on Sunday, May 1, died from drowning.

Further tests are being currently carried out to obtain a definitive cause of death, police said.

Officers are continuing to working with South Norfolk District Council to look at health and safety matters.

The seven-year-old had been at a private party in the pool at the holiday park near Beccles and showed signs of life when she was pulled from the pool.

The East Anglian Air Ambulance was called, with a doctor and critical-care paramedic landing close to the holiday park.

They treated the girl before she was taken by a road ambulance to the James Paget University Hospital in Gorleston, where she died at about 4pm on Sunday, May 1.

Norfolk coroner's office said a date for an inquest was yet to be decided.