Youngsters miss torch because of taxi mix-upTEN schoolchildren were left crestfallen after they missed out on taking part in an Olympic parade because the minibus due to drop them off at the event was 90 minutes late.
The nine-year-olds from Oakhill Primary, in Stoke-on-Trent, had been picked to represent the nation of Japan at yesterday's sporting gala and had spent weeks preparing for their role.
Around 1,000 other young people, from schools and colleges across the city, waved flags and wore costumes as the parade weaved from Staffordshire University, in Stoke, to Hanley Park. They then joined dancers and musicians for a carnival welcoming the Olympic torch relay to the park.
But while other children enjoyed the fun, Oakhill's young ambassadors were stuck at their Rookery Lane school because of a taxi mix-up.
Stoke-on-Trent-based Z Cars today apologised and offered to take pupils on a trip to the zoo as a consolation.
The firm's minibus had been booked to arrive at school at 12.30pm, ready to drop off children at the university campus for their Olympic registration at 1pm.
School secretary Karen Wetton said: "The driver initially turned up at around 11.15am. He had apparently got mixed up and was due to be at another school at that time. We asked him to return after he'd done that run.
"We kept waiting and made five phone calls to ask where he was. They said he was on his way. He eventually turned up just minutes before 2pm."
By then, the parade was setting off and it was too late. School staff had been unable to take pupils in their own cars as they were not covered by business insurance.
Amelia Mason, aged nine, from Oakhill, was in tears over missing the parade.
She said: "I had hardly slept at all because I was looking forward to it so much. It was going to be the best day ever.
"One girl had even been standing by the door at school praying because she wanted to go to the parade so badly.
"Our school was supposed to be representing Japan and we had designed a big flag for it. It was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity because the Olympic torch may never be here again."
The pupils had been picked as a reward for good behaviour.
Nine-year-old Sophie Swann, from Oakhill, said: "All the other schools were there, representing different countries, except our school. We were all really upset."
Some pupils got to see the Olympic torch later that evening as they had family tickets for the park celebrations.
David Shaw, transport manager for Z Cars, said: "The driver has now been interviewed and is going to go through disciplinary channels.
"As for the children, all we can do as a company is apologise. We know we can't bring the torch back."
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