A woman who almost drowned during a school swimming lesson in Basildon 15 years ago has won a landmark victory in her fight for compensation.

Whitmore Junior School pupil Annie Woodland was ten when she nearly lost her life at Gloucester Park swimming pool in July 2000.

After a prolonged legal battle, her family are celebrating a Supreme Court ruling that a swimming teacher and lifeguard let the youngster down.

Annie suffered severe brain damage and has been left with learning difficulties which mean she will need care for the rest of her life.

Legal action against Essex County Council, launched by Annie’s father Ian, stalled when judges ruled a decision in the family’s favour would have a “chilling effect” on the willingness of schools to take youngsters on educational trips.

But the ruling was reversed by the Supreme Court in 2013 and a fresh hearing has ruled lifeguard Debbie Maxwell and swimming teacher Paula Burlinson should have noticed she was drowning sooner.

Both women were employed by a contractor, Direct Swimming Services, but a judge ruled Essex County Council was liable for negligence.

Annie, now aged 24 and living with her family in Blackpool, is in line for a seven-figure payout.

Mr Justice Blake concluded Annie had been in difficulty and taking in water for more than 30 seconds before Ms Burlinson spotted and pulled her to safety.

By this time, Annie had suffered a cardiac arrest and her brain had been starved of oxygen.

The judge said: "The stark fact is that this was not noticed by Ms Burlinson, who was apparently teaching her group only a few feet away, or by Ms Maxwell who was on lifeguard duty that day and whose role in scanning the pool to ensure that children were safe was paramount."

He ruled Ms Burlinson's failure to notice Annie in distress "fell far below the standard of care reasonably to be expected of a teacher".

Mr Justice Blake also concluded Ms Maxwell was negligent, because she was not paying sufficient attention to the pool users.

He said: “These failures of duty of care caused or materially contributed to Annie's injuries."

The amount of Annie's compensation payout will be assessed at a later date.