A TODDLER died after drowning in a pond at his home, an inquest heard.

Twenty-two-month-old Andrew Condon died on Monday morning at Birmingham Children's Hospital, two days after he fell in to the pond in Whittall Drive East, Kidderminster, at about 12.40pm on Saturday.

Worcestershire coroner Victor Round, who opened and adjourned an inquest into the death yesterday, said there had been a "social occasion" at the house attended by "a lot of adults" on the day of the accident.

He said: "The little one was found apparently drowned in the goldfish pond at the home address.

Mr Round told the inquest that an ambulance was called and while paramedics tried to resuscitate him they did detect a hear beat, but that other tests showed the heart had been stopped for a long time and he had been taken to hospita with severe brain damage.

Andrew had first been taken to Worcestershire Royal Hospital in Worcester before he was transferred to Birmingham.

Mr Round added that a post mortem examination had not been held but the consultant paediatrician in Birmingham Dr Fiona Reynolds put Andrew's death down to "brain damage due to lack of oxygen due to drowning".

Det Insp Paul Knight issued a police appeal for families to take care.

"As the warm weather continues and the summer holidays fast approach it is important that all parents and youngsters are aware of the dangers of open water.

"A child can drown in a very small amount of water."