THE parents of a schoolboy who drowned in an Oxfordshire swimming pool are hoping to discover the truth about his death at a forthcoming inquest.

Terry and Penny Matthews said they were considering taking legal action after the hearing to seek compensation for the death of their son.

Eleven-year-old Nathan Matthews drowned during a fun day school swimming lesson at Thame Leisure Centre more than three years ago.

An inquest is due to start at Oxford Coroner's Court on Tuesday, December 4, and is expected to last two weeks.

Mr and Mrs Matthews, who live in Stokenchurch with their five other children, said they hoped the inquest would reveal what happened the day their son died.

Mrs Matthews, 38, said: "All I want is the truth or as close to it as we will ever get. I just want to make sure that this sort of thing never happens again.

"I wouldn't wish it on any other family to have to go through what we have gone through. It's been absolutely horrendous."

The Stokenchurch Primary School pupil was taking part in a relay race in July 2004. He was pulled from the water, but was later declared dead at Oxford's John Radcliffe Hospital.

The family's solicitor, David Thomas, said that depending on the findings of the inquest, it was possible Thames Valley Police and the Health & Safety Executive could reopen their investigations with a view to prosecution.

The leisure centre's Jubilee swimming pool is owned by Thame Town Council and operated by Soll Leisure, of Abingdon.