No charges over Charlotte Shaw Dartmoor drowning

Charlotte was throwing a bag across a river when she was swept away

No-one will face charges over the death of a teenager who drowned on Dartmoor while training for the Ten Tors challenge three years ago.

Charlotte Shaw, 14, from Frithelstock, drowned when she fell into Walla Brook during "atrocious" weather.

An inquest into her death was halted in December to consider whether criminal charges should be brought in the case.

The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) has decided there is not enough evidence to pursue a charge of manslaughter.

Its decision lifts the threat of prosecution against teachers from Edgehill College - now called Kingsley College - who were overseeing the training expedition in March 2007.

'Conflicting' evidence

Charlotte was in a party of 10 when the tragedy happened.

She was throwing a bag to the other side of the fast-flowing river when she fell in. She died from cardiac arrest as a result of drowning.

Conflicting evidence was given at the inquest about whether the trip should have been abandoned because of the conditions.

Two members of the team said Charlotte "begged" teachers to abandon the trip, but the group's navigator said both she and Charlotte had been happy to continue.

Halting the inquest, Devon Coroner Dr Elizabeth Earland said the evidence appeared to show there could have been a criminal offence committed.

But a CPS spokesman told BBC News there was insufficient evidence to pursue a charge of manslaughter.