A party of holidaymakers were criticised by a coroner today for their ''foolhardy'' midnight walk along a clifftop path which resulted in the death of a 16-year-old girl.

Student Terri Ann Ellwood plunged nearly 200ft to her death after she lost her footing at cliffs near the Blue Dolphin holiday camp at Filey, North Yorkshire, in October, last year.

Miss Ellwood embarked on the walk with her boyfriend Liam Heron, 15, and friends Jamie Lincoln, 23, and her partner Kimberley Graham, 30, Scarborough Coroner's Court was told.

All four had met up at a bar on the caravan park and decided to go for a midnight stroll along the path, which forms part of the Cleveland Way. The hearing was told none of the party were familiar with the area or had torches to guide them along the treacherous path.

Miss Ellwood, from Peterlee, County Durham, died from multiple injuries after plunging down the cliff face. Ms Graham suffered horrific leg injuries in the fall but survived.

Full story in The Northern Echo tomorrow.