A HAMPSHIRE activity centre failed to ensure the safety of a young girl who was left hanging by her neck on a rope bridge during a school trip.

The girl, who was 11-years-old at the time, was unconscious and had to be flown to hospital in July 2012 after she slipped at YMCA Fairthorne Manor near Botley.

The organisation had denied two charges brought by Winchester City Council but has been found guilty of failing to ensure the safety of the girl, who is believed to have been from Sherborne House School near Chandler's Ford.

She was among a group of 40 pupils who were on a trip to celebrate the end of the year.

When slipping on the Burma Bridge - a rope activity over a lake - her equipment got caught around her neck and she was then unconscious.

She had to be cut free, falling into the water below, and flown to Southampton General Hospital.

A jury found the YMCA Fairthorne Group guilty at Portsmouth Crown Court.

Leader of Winchester City Council, Caroline Horrill, said: "The public needs to be confident that a proper health and safety regime is in place.

"The verdict sends a clear message that the provision of adequate safety measures needs to be a high priority and that the city council will take appropriate action to ensure employee and public safety."

YMCA Fairthorne Group released a statement which said: "We are naturally disappointed with the verdict on an incident from over five years ago.

"As a leading children and young person's charity we are devastated that a child was involved in this unfortunate isolated incident.

"However, we take some comfort in the fact that she made a full recovery and would like to wish her well for the future."