Police get more time to question Barrymore

LONDON, Sep 10 (Reuters) Police have been given more time to question entertainer Michael Barrymore over the death of a man found in the swimming pool of his Essex home six years ago.

Barrymore, 55, reported back to police today after being arrested in June on suspicion of murder and serious sexual assault.

Magistrates granted detectives another 12 hours to question the former host of the ITV gameshow ''Strike It Lucky''.

Barrymore's lawyer has denied allegations his client was involved in the death of 31-year-old Stuart Lubbock, whose body was found in March 2001.

Post mortem tests indicated Lubbock had drowned and an inquest recorded an open verdict on his death.

The coroner said he had been found with drugs and alcohol in his system and with serious injuries, which suggested he had been the victim of a violent sexual assault.

Lubbock's father Terry refused to accept the death was an accident and campaigned for the case to be re-examined.

In December last year detectives said they would reopen their probe, following a review.

Terry Lubbock told Reuters yesterday he would continue his campaign if no charges were brought.

''If I don't get the charges I want -- murder, rape and perverting the course of justice -- my campaign is still going to roll,'' he said.

The scandal surrounding Lubbock's death destroyed Barrymore's once successful TV career.

He left Britain for self-imposed exile in New Zealand in the wake of the negative publicity but made a successful return in 2006 when he appeared in Channel 4's ''Celebrity Big Brother'' reality TV show.

REUTERS GL PM1720