Agency 'may raise bridge barrier'

Georgia Rowe and Neve Lafferty left the unit without permission

Raising the barrier along the Erskine Bridge is being "actively" considered, after two teenagers leapt from the crossing in an apparent suicide pact.

Neve Lafferty, 15, from Helensburgh, and Georgia Rowe, 14, from Hull, jumped into the River Clyde on Sunday night.

Transport Scotland said it would now consider putting up higher barriers along the full length of the bridge.

Meanwhile, First Minister Alex Salmond said any lessons arising from the incident would be learned.

Transport Scotland said it regularly reviewed safety at major bridges and that earlier this year a feasibility study into the Erskine Bridge parapet was carried out.

A statement said: "This report looked at previous safety improvements, other major bridges in the UK and overseas and reviewed a number of options.

Everything that needs to be found out about this tragedy will be found out Alex Salmond First Minister

"In the light of recent tragic events Transport Scotland will be actively considering if the additional measures and options in the report should be developed to provide an improved barrier height along the full length of the bridge, along with a review of other mitigation measures."

The agency added that CCTV had been installed and had proved effective in helping to avoid possible suicide attempts, as it allowed staff to alert police to suspicious activity and meant officers could intervene to try to deter people from jumping.

Neve Lafferty and Georgia Rowe attended the Good Shepherd Centre in Bishopton, Renfrewshire.

They were among nine live-in residents at the centre's open unit, which also has 21 day girls who live in foster or care homes.

'Apparently happy'

Local MP Jim Sheridan called for an inquiry to look into how the girls were able to leave the unit before jumping from the bridge on Sunday.

He said: "It is important to see both an internal and police inquiry to answer questions and explain the events."

The Catholic Church will work as fully as it possibly can with those who are carrying out the investigation into what might have happened Cardinal Keith O'Brien

But the first minister told the BBC: "There is a full quota of inquiries to take place, from the Care Commission, Social Work Examiners in Scotland and the Lord Advocate will have to decide on a fatal accident inquiry in the next few days.

"That's the way in which to approach this because among all of these inquiries, everything that needs to be found out about this tragedy will be found out.

"If there are lessons to learn on any aspect then lessons will be taken on board an learned."

The Good Shepherd Centre cares for young girls referred to the centre by local authority educational and psychological services, social work departments and children's hearings.

It is affiliated to the Cora Foundation, a non-profit-making company owned by the Catholic Bishops' Conference of Scotland.

'Awful loss'

Pupils at the open unit are not supervised around the clock but any outing requires authorisation. No authorisation was given for the girls to leave on Sunday evening.

A centre spokesman said they had been on "apparently happy and productive" weekend outings with relatives and were seen by staff in their pyjamas going to their rooms to watch television.

Staff carrying out routine checks later noticed they were missing.

Cardinal Keith O'Brien said the deaths were "a terrible tragedy and an awful loss of young life".

He added: "I obviously don't know the circumstances through which the girls were in residential care and I know nothing at all about what might have caused them to commit suicide.

"But I can assure you that the Catholic Church will work as fully as it possibly can with those who are carrying out the investigation into what might have happened to put additional stress on these girls."