Hannah Black (left) and Rochelle Cauvet (right) died in the river

The case brought by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) came almost two and a half years after the deaths of Rochelle Cauvet, 14, and Hannah Black, 13.

Representatives of Leeds City Council admitted one charge under the Health and Safety at Work Act of failing to ensure the safety of the girls and other pupils at the school at a hearing at Leeds Crown Court.

A further charge under the Act, to which the council had earlier pleaded guilty, was dealt with at the hearing.

Safety risks

The judge, Mr Justice Pitchers, ordered the council to pay �50,000 costs to the HSE.

The mothers of both teenagers were at Leeds Crown Court to hear again how their daughters - pupils at Royds School - had died in October 2000.

The teenagers were on an outdoor activity trip when they took part in a river-walk at Stainforth Beck, near Settle.

The HSE argued the authority had failed to ensure the girls and other pupils were not exposed to health and safety risks.

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

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

Paul Rogerson the chief executive of Leeds City Council said: "Everyone concerned with the tragedy and its aftermath have a real sense of loss over the deaths of these two young people and deeply regret what occurred."