A HAMPSHIRE mum hopes to lay her daughter to rest today - three years after she drowned in a school boating tragedy.

Nine-year-old Elizabeth Bee, a pupil at Boundary Oak School, Fareham, died when a boat carrying children from her school capsized in Portsmouth Harbour in September 1999.

Nine youngsters, including Elizabeth's twin sister Victoria were on board.

Today teacher Paul Dove, who was in charge of the trip and the private school's representatives, Boundary Oak Trust Ltd, are due to be sentenced for breaching health and safety rules.

Elizabeth's mother Lesley, said she and her daughters Victoria, 12, and Katherine, five, have "suffered terribly" since the accident.

She said: "Victoria has suffered terribly through it all, asking questions like 'why aren't they in prison, mummy?' and 'are they going to take the blame mummy?'

"It's been really, really hard. And every time it goes to court it digs it all up again. The trauma has been terrible."

In April Dove, 66, now retired, 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.

At the same hearing the school also pleaded guilty to one offence under the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974, relating to the safety of pupils.

However, it was only two weeks ago when the school finally admitted a second offence of failing to ensure the safety of employees, namely Dove. Each offence carries a maximum £20,000 penalty.

The eleventh hour admission came days before a two-week trial was due to start into the case.

Lesley, 45, said: "As it is it is like the book has not been closed. People keep on asking me what's going on and I keep having to relive it all.

"All I ever wanted was for the school and Mr Dove to say sorry, it was our fault and it will never happen again.

"This is the last hurdle. After this I can finally lay Elizabeth to rest."