The train company has offered the children a trip to the seaside

More than 50 five and six-year-olds from the school in Dawley near Telford, Shropshire were forced to go to the coast by coach after Wales and Border Trains said there were too many of them to accommodate.

The train company has admitted the school did not receive the level of service it deserved and has now offered the children a free trip to the seaside.

But the head teacher of St Leonard's Infants Schools said they have not yet decided whether they will accept the offer.

The 54 youngsters, aged between five and six, had been preparing for the geography and history trip to the seaside for months.

The children were very disappointed. After watching a video about trains one said 'They're going on a train but they didn't want us did they?' Head teacher Lorraine Campbell

Staff had been fundraising for the day out - which had been due to take place this week - since March and the train journey had been planned to be an integral part of the experience.

"Many of our children have never gone to the coast or on a train before," said head teacher Lorraine Campbell.

"We've had videos showing the children beaches and train platforms. It was going to be a very exciting day for the children.

"The children were very disappointed. After watching a video about trains one said 'They're going on a train but they didn't want us did they?'".

The train company's spokeswoman Leigh Franks apologised.

Coach

"We normally have a very effective group booking system and I am not entirely sure at this moment in time what exactly happened and why there was a breakdown in communication," she said.

"We would very much like to offer them a trip to Aberystwyth courtesy of Wales and Border Trains and we will fully reserve their seats for them."

However, the school's head teacher Lorraine Campbell said she has not yet decided whether she will agree to the trip.

"I'm going to discuss it with the staff," she said.

"Everything we do is to try and enrich the children's learning opportunities."

The youngsters actually went on their trip last week by coach.