THE former wife of a college lecturer who died in a potholing accident spoke of her shock last night.

Ann Lea said her husband, Ray, was a man who did everything right and "took no risks".

Mr Lea, a lecturer at Darlington College of Technology, was found dead with fellow potholer Julian Carroll, from Tynemouth, in a cave on the North Yorkshire-Lancashire border.

The pair, who are understood to have met through the Internet, were found by rescuers dangling from ropes half-way up a 160ft waterfall.

It is thought the men were climbing back to the surface, but were overcome by hypothermia having been caught by rising water levels.

Last night, Mrs Lea, who was married for 30 years before their divorce, said: "He was a very experienced potholer who had been climbing for about 25 years.

"He did everything right and although he was a little bit of a devil, he would not take risks.

"What went wrong I don't know, but I am very, very upset."

Mr Lea's girlfriend, Susan Stabler, who has two grown-up children from a previous relationship, was too upset to talk about the accident.

Steve Shaw, a neighbour of Mr Lea, who lived in Vancouver Street, Darlington, said: "He was a nice, friendly man and I was shattered when I heard he had been killed, it is an awful shock."

Mr Lea joined the Darlington college as an engineering lecturer in 1993 and founded its college caving club a year later, taking students on outdoor activities.

College principal Peter Shuker said: "Ray was able to run the club to the highest standards.

"We had every confidence in his abilities and it is tragic that this accident has happened."

Both Mr Lea and Mr Carroll, who were experienced cavers, were discovered on Sunday in Ireby Fell Cavern, near Ingleton.

It is regarded as comparatively easy to climb, but is thought to have filled quickly with water following a significant amount of rain on the fells.

Steve Finch, who coordinated the attempt to save the two men, said: "The lesson to be learnt is that if you are going climbing, get advice on the local conditions."

A post-mortem examination on the men is being carried out at the Royal Lancaster Infirmary today.

An inquest will be opened and adjourned tomorrow morning, in Lancaster, by North Lancashire Coroner George Howson.

A spokesman for Lancashire police said: "There will be a full investigation of the circumstances and this will be presented to the inquest."