A GRIEVING couple are struggling to come to terms with the death of their two-year-old daughter, who drowned in their garden pond.

The parents, who recently moved from their native Australia to live in Hough Green in Chester, are devastated that their little girl fell into the pond in their back garden.

Efforts by the family and paramedics to revive her failed, and the police were notified of her death.

The family have not been officially named yet by the police, and have asked to be left alone to grieve in peace.

They have also asked Chester police for counselling and support to get them through this hard time.

A family member who answered the door, and spoke on the parents' behalf, said: 'They have asked me to say that if anyone wants to do a story, they have got to go through the police.'

The family have only moved to Chester in the last few weeks, and the neighbours say they have not had chance to get to know them yet.

The couple, who have another small child, live in a family-sized Victorian house on the main road in Hough Green. Yesterday, there were two pushchairs parked outside.

Cheshire police spokesman Alan Creevy said officers had been called to the address on Tuesday evening.

'The two-year-old girl was found at that address.

'Her nanny had taken the family's other child to the toilet, thinking that the two-year-old girl was safe in the back garden by the pond.

'She returned 10 minutes later to find the two-year-old face down in the pond,' he said.

Mr Creevy said there were no suspicious circumstances, and this was just 'a tragic accident'.

An inquest into the girl's death has yet to be opened by Cheshire coroner Nicholas Rheinberg.

This is likely to take place 0on Monday.

After that, the girl will be officially named by the coroner, and the inquest will be adjourned for evidence to be gathered by the police in the normal way.

Mr Creevy added: 'The family are Australian nationals who had just moved to Chester.

'They are obviously very upset by this tragedy, and have asked for the police's Family Liaison Officer to help comfort and support them during this time.'