Basically I just could not keep hanging onto her

Andy Miller, teacher

Rochelle's body was found the day after the girls went missing, but the search for Hannah continued for a number of weeks.

Her body was eventually found by a fisherman.

The jury at Harrogate Magistrates Court were shown a series of videos of Stainforth Beck taken after the incident.

In one of the videos, Mr Miller describes to police his attempts to pull Rochelle out of the water.

He said: "I still had hold of her shoulder but we went down into the water together.

"I was obviously trying to get us both out and I got her across this side.

"I clung on to the branch down there with Rochelle but I had my head in the water."

35.6mm of rain had fallen in the 24 hours up to the morning of the accident

"Basically I just could not keep hanging onto her."

Earlier the inquest was read a statement from the mother of a girl who saw Rochelle being swept away.

The woman - who cannot be identified for legal reasons - recounted the version of events given by her daughter after she returned from the trip.

She said her daughter had taken part in the "river-walk", but was allowed to get out after stumbling.

She said: "She turned around and saw that Rochelle had fallen into the water and both Rochelle and the other children were laughing because it was funny.

High rainfall

"She said Rochelle was waving at her and spinning around in the water until she realised she could not put her feet down.

"Rochelle then disappeared out of sight round a bend of the river."

The woman's statement also outlined how she had written to the school four days before the trip to express her concern about the "river walk" because of high rainfall at that time.

In her statement the mother said: "I asked them to pay extra consideration to the depth and speed of the water as well as the possibility of flash floods."

The inquest was told how the trip consisted of a 49 people who were staying at Ingleton Youth Hostel.

The parents of Hannah Black arrive at the inquest

The party consisted of 43 children, four staff and two sixth form helpers.

The inquest also heard details of rainfall on the day of the tragedy and the state of Stainforth Beck.

In one statement Ian Burgon, who lived in the village of Stainforth for 19 years, said the beck on the afternoon of 10 October 2000 was "flowing very fast and turbulent".

Earlier at the inquest, Coroner John Sleightholme said none of the girls' school friends would appear in person at the inquest but their statements would be read.