Crown court trial over river deaths

Hannah Black and Rochelle Cauvet (right) died

Council officials face a crown court hearing after the deaths of two girls during a school trip.

Representatives of Leeds City Council appeared before magistrates in the city where the authority was facing two charges of breaching health and safety at work regulations.

It follows the deaths of Hannah Black, 13, and Rochelle Cauvet, 14, at Stainforth Beck, near Settle in North Yorkshire.

Earlier this year an inquest into the girls' deaths heard how they died after they lost their footing and were swept down the fast-flowing stream in October 2000.

Inquest verdict

The river-walk activity was part of a residential week planned by Royds School in Oulton, Leeds

The jury in the inquest at Harrogate returned a verdict of accidental death on both girls.

The Health and Safety Executive is prosecuting Leeds City Council for contravention of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974.

It alleges the authority failed to ensure the girls and other pupils were not exposed to health and safety risks.

The council is also being prosecuted for failing to complete a risk assessment in respect of river walking activities at Stainforth Beck.

Magistrates decided the case should be transferred to the crown court