TWO members of staff at a York nursery have been arrested by detectives investigating the death of a three-year-old girl, The Press can reveal today.

North Yorkshire Police said the workers at York College Day Nursery were arrested and interviewed as part of ongoing inquiries into the circumstances surrounding the death last month of Lydia Bishop.

“They have been bailed pending further inquiries,” said a spokesman.

“The investigation is still in its early stages and it is not possible to comment further at this time.”

Lydia, of South Bank, died on her first day at the nursery on September 17.

An inquest on Monday was told nursery staff and paramedics battled to save her with CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation) after she was found “unresponsive” on a slide in the outdoor playground, with a rope around her neck. She was taken to York Hospital, where she was later confirmed to have died.

York Coroner Donald Coverdale said a post-mortem examination had shown a provisional cause of death was “pressure on the neck”.

York College confirmed in a statement that two members of its nursery staff had been interviewed by police as part of their ongoing investigation into Lydia’s death.

“We will continue to assist the investigating authorities in every way we can,” it said.

“Our sincere condolences remain with Lydia’s family and our thoughts are with them and the staff, parents and children of the nursery who have been affected by this tragic event. We continue to do all we can to support those involved.”