Shrewsbury school's ferry trip hit by French strike action

The pupils, who attend Sundorne School, were halfway across the English Channel to Calais when their ferry was instructed to return to Dover on Monday.

French ferry workers in Calais have been protesting over expected job cuts.

A total of 41 pupils from years seven to nine were on the ferry. They had been on the school's annual French trip, which would have involved visits to Paris and Disneyland, along with a range of cultural activities.

Instead their tour company, NTS, has arranged for the pupils to visit a PGL outdoor activity centre and return to Shrewsbury on Thursday. It has also agreed to provide a full refund for parents.

Alex Raeside, headteacher at Sundorne, said they had tried to rearrange the trip to France but it was not possible.

He said: "They got halfway across on the boat then the ferry turned around back to Dover.

"Then the trip lead, Tracy Garratt, who has been amazing throughout, sorted out with the travel company for an overnight stay in an activity centre; the idea being to see if they could get a ferry to a different port or the chunnel the next day. But unfortunately with all the disruption caused that was not possible."

Mr Raeside said that they had done their best to keep parents informed of the developments throughout, using text messages to pass on information.

He added: "The company, NTS, has honourably decided to give full refunds for parents and because of the disruption they have agreed to put them up in an activity centre. They now come back on Thursday."

Mr Raeside praised the trip leader for her role in organising the trip and helping find an alternative.

He said: "She has been exceptional. She has contacted the school and kept us up to date."

Industrial action from around 100 French ferry workers has caused considerable disruption this week with freight companies and Eurostar suspending train services yesterday after workers blocked the tracks in Calais over expected job cuts.

The British Government has described the disruption caused by the industrial action as "completely unacceptable".