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Children watch boat sail without them

Thu, 26 May 2011

It's not clear who's to blame after a coach load of local school children were left at Pier Head in Liverpool as the Manannan sailed without them.

The youngsters from Clothworkers Primary School in Peel were returning from a school trip on Friday when their coach broke down.

The trip leader says they contacted the Steam Packet Company three hours before the boat was due to leave to tell them of the problem.

They say they were told that as long as they arrived by 7pm they would be allowed on the boat.

A statement from the Department of Education says the children arrived at 6.50pm and although the gang plank was still down they weren't allowed onboard.

However, the Steam Packet says the school party didn't arrive at the terminal until 7.05pm, when the boat had already left its berth.

The company says it has every sympathy for the group and although it does try to be flexible with check-in and departure times where possible, it does still have to consider the needs of other passengers.

Teachers were able to get the children to Heysham to catch the overnight boat.

 

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