Ten Tors teams back with parents

The two-day, Army-organised challenge was abandoned after the weather deteriorated and swollen rivers prompted safety fears.

A total of 2,400 youngsters from across the UK had to be airlifted, driven or escorted off the wilderness back to Okehampton battle camp.

Among them were team mates of Charlotte Shaw, 14, from Edgehill College in Bideford, north Devon, who died after falling into a rain-swollen stream on Dartmoor on March 4.

David Harris, Army spokesman, said all the teams were now off the moor and added: "All the children are accounted for and safe. They are being reunited with their parents as we speak. This operation went smoothly and as well as can be expected with the conditions up there. The weather has abated somewhat now, making life a bit easier."

About 200 youngsters who were airlifted to the Royal Marine Base at Bickleigh Barracks, near Plymouth, are being transported by road back to the camp.

The teams set off to negotiate ten tors on routes of 35, 45 or 55 miles as part of the annual event.

This year they were allowed to carry one mobile phone for emergency use only.

Brigadier Jolyon Jackson, Ten Tors director, said: "Saturday was challenging conditions but they were sensible risks. What changed is the river levels went up considerably. The rain is harder and the mist means it is very difficult to extract people by helicopter.

"These three things together made me decide that today would have been a silly risk, not a sensible risk."