A council was warned by its insurers to improve safety on a beach three years before a child died there, an inquest has heard.

Lelaina Hall, aged five, drowned on Berrow Beach, Burnham-on-Sea after becoming trapped in sinking sand.

On Friday, the Taunton inquest heard that insurers acting for Sedgemoor District Council prepared a report in 1999, strongly recommending improving beach warnings.

But council staff failed to act on the advice, it emerged.

Warning signs

Lelaina's mother, Caroline Hall from Worcester, said she was completely unaware of the dangers of the soft sand when her family came to the Somerset town for a holiday.

Lelaina ran towards the sea, sank in the mud and was drowned by the incoming tide in spite of desperate efforts to save her.

On Friday an inquest jury recorded a verdict of "accidental death" on Lelaina.

The council has subsequently improved warning signs on the beach but they were criticised in court by West Somerset Coroner, Michael Rose.

He said they were "too detailed and potentially confusing".

The council argued that before the tragic case of Lelaina there had not been a death on Berrow Beach since 1902.