An inquest opened today into the deaths of two girls who died after they were swept away in a fast-flowing stream while on a school trip.

Assistant North Yorkshire coroner John Sleightholme swore in a jury at Harrogate Magistrates Court and told them they would be examining the deaths of Hannah Black, 13, and Rochelle Cauvet, 14.

The teenagers, pupils at Royds School, Oulton, Leeds, died in October 2000 at Stainforth Beck, near Settle, in the Yorkshire Dales.

Mr Sleightholme adjourned the hearing for legal arguments after directing the three men and seven women on the jury about their responsibilities.

He told them none of the girls' school friends would appear in person at the inquest but their statements would be read.

Mr Sleightholme said: "Tragically this inquest is into the deaths of two young school girls on a school adventure trip.

"A substantial number of witnesses are their school friends.

"You may well think that it would be distressing for them to come to this hearing to report what they saw."