A GRANDMOTHER was in tears as she revealed to a Leigh inquest how she had received hate mail since her two-year-old grandson died in a neighbour's garden pond.

The Leigh inquest was on Matthew Howard, of Brook Lynn Avenue, Lowton.

His grandmother Mrs Irene Messenger, of Old Hey Road, Newton-le-Willows, had been looking after him while his mother was out doing part-time work.

She told how she was playing with him in the garden when she suddenly realised he was out of sight. She searched for him but could not find him.

He was found in a neighbour's pond by neighbour Francis O'Brien, who tried in vain to revive the child.

The boy's father Martin Howard was given permission by coroner Mr Martin Coppel to cross examine the grandmother, but as she began to speak two women spectators sitting close by interrupted loudly, and the coroner warned them to be quiet.

The distraught grandmother told the coroner: "I have had hate mail, everything."

Recording a verdict of accidental death, the coroner said: "It is not my business to attribute blame.

"It was a dreadful accident and I offer my sympathy to all concerned.

"It could only have been a minute of two before the grandmother realised he was missing. She searched immediately but could not find him. For some reason the child was attracted to go into this garden. He did not call out or shout out, and he may have struggled to get out."

The pond is in the garden at the home of Graeme Mills, who said it had caused no trouble and no one had ever fallen in before.

Asked after the inquest if he would consider covering it up or filling it in, he said he would discuss this with the boy's father.

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