A PRIVATE Fareham School has admitted breaching health and safety law more than three years after one of its pupils drowned on a school outing.

The two-week trial against Boundary Oak School was due to start today.

But in a preliminary court hearing the school finally admitted it had breached health and safety rules and put its staff, namely teacher Paul Dove, in danger.

The eleventh-hour admission by Boundary Oak Trust Ltd could mean up to a £20,000 penalty for the school.

Elizabeth Bee, pictured, from Waterlooville, near Portsmouth, died when a motorboat carrying nine children from the school capsized in Portsmouth Harbour in September 1999.

The nine-year-old became trapped under the 14ft vessel. The teacher in charge was Paul Dove who had also taken Elizabeth's twin sister, Victoria, on the trip.

In April retired Dove, 66, of Mill Road, Burgess Hill, Sussex, pleaded guilty to failing to take adequate precautions to protect the health and safety of people in his care.

He faces a substantial fine and his sentencing was deferred until the school's trial was over.

The same month the school also pleaded guilty to one offence under the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 relating to the safety of pupils - but at that time denied the second charge of failing to ensure the safety of employees.

A sentencing date for both retired Dove and the school at Portsmouth Crown Court has yet to be fixed.