A 15-year-old girl has died after swimming in a reservoir in Merseyside, police say.

Emergency services were called to Carr Mill Dam in St Helens at 12.30pm after reports of a concern for safety for a teenage girl who had “got in distress” while swimming with friends, Merseyside Police said.

Chief Inspector Paul Holden said officers entered the water in an attempt to find the youngster.

He said: “Unfortunately, despite their best efforts, the search culminated in the recovery of the girl’s body.”

“Our sincere condolences go to her family and friends during this tragic time.”

He added the force was joined by officers from Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service. The girl’s next of kin have been informed and would be supported by specialist officers, police confirmed.

Police vehicles, including an underwater search van, ambulances and fire engines were parked in the car park of a nearby pub as the search took place. A large area was cordoned off to the public.

St Helens Area Manager for Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service, Kevin Longshaw, said the service sent four fire engines to the scene and firefighters in water kit entered the dam to search.

Officers could be seen patrolling the path around the dam.

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Adele Laitak, 50, from Liverpool, said she had been walking around the dam when she heard shouting.

She said: “I heard a girl shouting. It sounded like she was in distress but we couldn’t see anything from where we were. As we came round we saw fire engines.

“It sounded to me like she was saying ‘help’ but because we were over the other side of the lake we didn’t know if it was just kids messing around.

“A police lady who was at the edge of the lake said a child’s gone missing and some women told us two children had gone into the water but one had managed to get out.”

Police said the death is not being treated as suspicious and urged urge anyone who was in the area at the time to please contact the force so they can establish what happened.

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