Terry Christopher's toddler son drowned in the pool

But the first evening ended in tragedy, when three-year-old Nicholas drowned in the swimming pool.

After arriving at the site and unloading and doing some shopping during the day, the family told the hearing how they had gone to the clubhouse in the early evening.

The children, the coroner was told, wandered off to play on the dancefloor or the video machines.

At one point his parents noticed that Nicholas had gone missing. He was found soon after by a holiday camp receptionist. He had been wandering near the pool.

Receptionist Elizabeth Ogwen Evans, told the court that she recalled asking the family to look after the little boy as he was too young to be on his own.

Missing

The family thought she also said that the gate to the pool had been closed.

But Nicholas then went missing a second time and various searches, first by the family then by the staff, could not find him.

It was not until the second search of the pool, shortly after 2100, that Nicholas' body was found hidden under the pool cover.

Attempts by staff, a doctor and paramedics to revive him were unsuccessful.

Recording a verdict of accidental death, coroner Michael Howells said it was not his function to decide criminal or civil matters, that would be for another court he said.

He expressed his 'real and genuine' sympathy to the family.

Afterwards, the family said they were considering taking civil action.