TEENAGERS sparked a four-hour search when they got lost on the North York Moors during a school expedition.

Mountain rescue workers and police were contacted as staff from Millthorpe School, off Scarcroft Road, York, searched for the five girls on a moor near Osmotherley yesterday.

The girls, aged between 14 and 15, had been on a Duke of Edinburgh award expedition.

And they were praised today for following emergency procedures they had been taught.

Head teacher Peter Whitcomb said: "The staff realised that one group of five girls had lost their way across the moor to the extent they could not locate their position on the map."

Members of staff, who were in constant contact with the girls by mobile phone, tried twice to find them, but eventually contacted police and mountain rescue.

"The staff were asking them to describe the features and landscape around them but, due to their nervousness and limited visibility, it was not possible to be 100 per cent certain of their location," said Mr Whitcomb.

"With the help of a local farm family and repeated telephone conversations with the girls, it became possible to narrow down their location to one or two derelict farm buildings. Staff set out to one of these locations at 8pm and the girls were found.

"At all times proper emergency procedures were followed by the girls and the members of staff."

"When the girls were found they were warm and dryish, had pitched a tent and were using their torches and whistles.

"Everybody was safely home by 11pm."

The expedition is an essential part of the Duke of Edinburgh award scheme.

Updated: 14:14 Monday, July 01, 2002