College chief starts cave inquiry

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An investigation is under way into how a group of teenagers became trapped in a North Yorkshire cave by rising water.

The group of 11 students from Craven College were rescued from the cave complex after becoming trapped by fast-flowing water on Friday evening.

The cavers, aged between 16 and 19, were brought safely to the surface in a three-hour rescue operation at Dow Cave near Kettlewell.

Principal Alan Blackwell said he would "personally oversee" the inquiry.

The group became trapped at 1545 GMT and were helped by cave rescue services and police.

North Yorkshire Police said the leaders of the group swam from the cave and raised the alarm at a village store.

In a statement released through the county's police force, Mr Blackwell said: "I was notified immediately by my staff and was reassured that they had taken the students to an area of the cave which never floods and offered a safe haven.

"They kept the students in this safe area until the rescue services arrived.

"I would like to reassure parents that I will personally oversee an internal enquiry into the events leading up to the incident."