AN INQUEST has opened into the deaths of two eight-year-old girls who drowned during a riverbank birthday barbeque.

Charlea Fox was celebrating her eighth birthday last Monday when she died with best friend Jasmin Neville in the River Wharf, near Otley, West Yorkshire.

Jasmin's grandparents, John and Diana Shaw, of Park Street East, Barrowford, are planning to hold her funeral at Wheatley Lane Inghamite Church, near Nelson. Jasmin's mother, Joanne, was brought up in Pendle.

A statement from Inspector Neil Fawcett, who is heading the inquiry, was read to the Leeds inquest.

It old how three children and five adults had been enjoying a barbecue.

At about 6pm, four adults left, leaving the children in the care of Mrs Wendy Dodd. "The children were playing on the sand and paddling on the river's edge. Four of the adults left to return to Leeds, leaving one of the adults, Mrs Wendy Dodd, to supervise the children," the statement said. "She noticed a short time later that the children were missing. She found Alexander, but was unable to find the others.

"She sought the assistance of a local resident and informed the police.

A large scale search was made, including helicopters, dogs and underwater divers. At 10.15pm both the missing girls' bodies were recovered from the river bed close to where they were last seen."

During the reading of the statement, a tearful Mrs Fox interrupted and told the inquest: "We never just left her. There was another vehicle to take her home."

The bodies of both girls, from Burley in Leeds, were identified at Leeds General Infirmary by Charlea's father, David Fox, and Jasmin's grandfather.

A provisional post mortem examination showed they died from drowning, the inquest heard.

Mrs Dodd, 40, was arrested by police last Thursday.

She was later released on police bail and a file has been sent to the Crown Prosecution Service.

Leeds deputy coroner John Bradwell released the bodies of both girls and adjourned the inquest to a date to be fixed.

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