A major search operation was launched by rescue services

A post-mortem examination carried out on Tuesday showed that Sarah Louise Roberts, from Caernarfon, died from drowning.

She had been on the beach at Llanddwyn island, off Newborough, with her foster family on Monday afternoon.

Coroner Dewi Pritchard-Jones, sitting at Caernarfon, opened and adjourned an inquest.

Gwynedd and Ynys Mon councils issued statements extending sympathy to members of Sarah's family, and counselling and support has been offered.

A spokesman for Gwynedd council said an inquiry would be held into the incident.

A statement from Ynys Mon council issued on Tuesday said: "Llanddwyn is generally regarded as a safe bathing beach but strong currents do exist at the mouth of the Menai Straits.

"These occur a long way off shore from the beach areas. For these reasons the council has not considered there to be a need for lifeguards to be employed on the island's beaches.

The Council views the need for safety on beaches very seriously and has had coastal safety by-laws in place for many years. These by-laws are currently being reviewed to ensure they are fit for the future."

A two-hour air and sea search took place before Sarah's body was found on Monday evening. She was flown by RAF helicopter to Ysbyty Gwynedd, Bangor, where she was pronounced dead.

Sarah went into the water to play with four other children but it is believed she swam off and was then swept out to sea by the tide.

She was a good half a mile off shore - all efforts were made to resuscitate her, but those efforts failed unfortunately Carl Hiltunen, North Wales Coastguard

Her foster parents raised the alarm at about 1545 BST and a major rescue operation was launched.

It was two hours before she was spotted half a mile out to sea by a helicopter from RAF Valley in Anglesey.

North Wales Police said the girl's natural parents had been informed and that the incident was not being treated as suspicious

Inspector Alan Brown, of North Wales Police, said: "It's a very dangerous swimming area if you go out too far because of the Menai Straits.

"The girl disappeared from sight and that's when we commenced a search of the sea and the beach area because we didn't rule out she had come out on her own."

During the rescue, the RAF Valley helicopter was joined by Rhosneigr and Bangor coastguard teams and the North Wales Police helicopter, plus two boats from Trearddur Bay.

Carl Hiltunen, watch manager at Holyhead for the North Wales Coastguard, said: "We received the alarm just before 4pm.

"We tasked lifeboats and advised the police, who tasked their helicopter and later the RAF helicopter.

"She was a good half a mile off shore - all efforts were made to resuscitate her, but those efforts failed unfortunately."