A PARENT wrote to a school four days before a trip in which two pupils were swept away to their deaths to say she was concerned about high rainfall, an inquest has heard.

The inquest at Harrogate magistrates' court also heard that Rochelle Cauvet, 14, was laughing moments before she and Hannah Black, 13, lost their footing and fell into water in October 10, 2000 at Stainforth Beck, near Settle, in the Yorkshire Dales.

The search spread into Lancashire along 10km of the River Ribble in Sawley, Clitheroe and Gibson, as Lancashire Police and volunteers from the Rossendale Search and Rescue Team joined the hunt for the teenagers' bodies.

The girls, pupils at Royds School, Oulton, Leeds, died after the school trip 'river walk.'

In a statement to the inquest, the parent said she wrote to Stephen Woods, the teacher leading the annual adventure trip on October 6, 2000.

In her statement the mother said: "I told him I was very concerned about excessive rainfall in September.

"I told him that I didn't want to spoil the children's trip or enjoyment.

"I asked them to pay extra consideration to the depth and speed of the water, as well as the possibility of flash floods."

The mother said she did not receive a written reply, but said her daughter told her the teacher had tried to contact her by phone.

The inquest was told how the trip consisted of 49 people who were staying at Ingleton Youth Hostel.

The school had done it for a number of years and were regarded as 'responsible' by the hostel management.

The party consisted of 43 children, four staff and two sixth form helpers.

(Proceeding)