Girls 'shocked' by hostel assault

Roger Pope, principal of Kingsbridge Community College in south Devon, said: "This is an extremely distressing incident and the girls were shocked but thankfully unharmed."

Reports from France said the youngsters were assaulted by a man who went into the room where they were sleeping.

The 24-year-old is believed to have gone into the room occupied by the 13- and 14-year-olds in the early hours of the morning. He caressed two of the girls' necks and a hand of the third, before the fourth screamed.

The alleged incident happened between 4am and 6am on Sunday at the Pinede Youth Hostel in Saint-Brevin, on the west coast of France, the reports said. Police said the man, who was arrested, obtained a key from a male member of staff and spent up to half an hour inside the hostel.

A man was later detained, put under examination for sexual assault, and then bailed after a brief court appearance - the first step towards formal charges in France.

The safety of British children in French youth hostels has been under the spotlight since 13-year-old Caroline Dickinson was raped and murdered in Pleine-Fougeres, Brittany, in 1996. She was in a party of 40 pupils and five teachers staying at a youth hostel. In 2004 Francisco Arce Montes, then 54, a former waiter from northern Spain, was sentenced to 30 years for the murder.

Mr Pope said college staff and workers at the hostel had reacted immediately and they were all very grateful to the French police for apprehending the alleged perpetrator so quickly. He had spoken to the girls' parents and it was decided that the children's holiday should continue.

A Devon County Council spokesman said: "As a local education authority we will look at the circumstances with the college and we will learn lessons."

John Dickinson, Caroline's father, was not prepared to comment.