A TEACHER wiped away tears yesterday as he described how a pupil slipped from his grasp and was swept to her death as he tried to save her in a fast-flowing river.

Andy Miller told an inquest jury how he chased down the side of Stainforth Beck, near Settle, in the Yorkshire Dales, as 14-year-old Rochelle Cauvet and Hannah Black, 13, were washed away while on a school river walk. Both girls were later found dead.

The 48-year-old teacher described how he jumped into the river and managed to get hold of Rochelle's shoulder but the force of the water pulled her away.

He said: "I have had nightmares about that. I have asked myself 'did I let go?' I don't think I did. I just couldn't hold on any longer."

The inquest was told how Mr Miller and fellow teacher Liz Schofield took a group of 15 teenagers on the river walk on October 10, 2000.

The activity, which involved walking in the water along the side of the stream, was organised by Royds School, at Oulton, near Leeds, and involved about 200 youngsters staying at four centres.

The teacher told North Yorkshire's assistant coroner John Sleightholme he had been a late replacement to go on the walk.

The inquest continues.