Two potholers who died after being trapped by rising water in an underground cave in the Yorkshire Dales have been named.

Caroline Jane Fletcher, 28, of Riddlesden, Keighley, and 33-year-old Stuart John Goodwill, of Darlington, County Durham, drowned in a fast-flowing stream which had been swollen by heavy rainfall.

Their bodies were found early last Friday in Lower Long Churn, a passage that connects to the famous Alum Pot cave system.

The search began after Mr Goodwill's wife raised the alarm when he failed to return home.

An inquest was opened and adjourned yesterday by North Yorkshire Coroner Geoff Fell.

The pair's bodies were found by the Cave Rescue Organisation based in Clapham.

The team was led by Phil Haigh, a teacher at Nab Wood School, Cottingley, who said the bodies were discovered at 3.20am 60 to 70 metres along the Lower Long Churn passage.

Mr Haigh, a cave rescuer for more than 25 years, described the pair's deaths as a tragedy and he warned that water could rise in a cave several hours after rain had stopped.

He said: "As cavers ourselves, we have a particular sympathy and empathy with the bereaved families and send our condolences to them."