Health and safety officers have begun their investigation into why a four-year-old boy drowned in a busy public swimming pool in the Highlands.

The youngster was pulled unconscious from the water of the state-of-the-art facility Aquadrome in Inverness on Saturday afternoon.

But despite efforts by ambulance staff and medics at nearby Raigmore Hospital he died.

It is understood that the swimming pool, which is run by a private company on behalf of the local council, was packed with families.

Post mortem

The pool has now been closed so an investigation into the circumstances of the child's drowning can begin.

A post mortem examination is expected to be carried out on Monday.

A Northern Constabulary police spokesman said that inquiries were continuing into the "tragic incident" but "at this time there would appear to be no suspicious circumstances".

A full report will be submitted to the procurator fiscal.

The name of the dead child has not yet been released.