An inquest is set to open this week into the deaths of a 28-year-old Keighley woman and her male companion who died trapped by rising water in an underground cave in the Yorkshire Dales.

The woman and a 33-year-old man from Darlington, County Durham, drowned in a fast-flowing stream swollen by heavy rainfall.

North Yorkshire Police have not disclosed the identity of the pair, whose bodies were found on Friday in Lower Long Churn, a cave popular with adventure holiday groups and parties of school children.

The search began for the man after his wife raised the alarm when he failed to return home.

Bradford school teacher Phil Haigh, who led the cave rescue bid, said the pair were caught by rising water. He said the pair were found 60 to 70 metres down Lower Long Churn, a passage which connects to the famous Alum Pot cave system.

The North Yorkshire Coroner Geoff Fell has been informed of the deaths.

A police spokesman said an inquest was expected to open later this week.

The bodies were found by The Cave Rescue Organisation based in Clapham.

The team was led by Mr Haigh who said the man and woman drowned after they were caught by rising water.

Mr Haigh, head of geography at Nab Wood School, said the bodies were discovered at 3.20am 60-70 metres down a passage that connects to the famous Alum Pot cave system.