GAZETTE & HERALD: Needy children have been left disappointed and angry after their adventure of a lifetime to New Zealand was called off at the last moment because it had not received clearance from the county council.

Chippenham-based charity Kandu Arts was planning to take around a dozen children in care on the trip at Easter with Soldier, Soldier actor Jerome Flynn, who is one of its patrons.

Kandu said it informed the county council 15 months ago about the £35,000 trip, which would have involved swimming with dolphins, whale watching and learning about the Maori culture, but said it was advised by officials not to put its formal proposal in until January.

Now the charity has been forced to postpone the April trip and give up its provisional flight reservations because the necessary approval from the county council has not come through.

The council has confirmed it is looking into the charity's formal request, which it says it had only recently received.

Kandu boss Ed Deedigan said he was gobsmacked: "We met with them 15 months ago and as far as we were concerned everything was underway from the council's point of view.

"We knew from our previous American trip that there was lots of stuff to get in order in relation to the youngsters' welfare and safety.

"But it appears that for a multitude of reasons, including that posts have changed hands and people have left Social Services, things have not been done.

"We were taking it as read that things were being done but they haven't been and the group is livid."

Mr Deedigan said the charity had spent hundreds of man hours fundraising for the trip.

A 16-year-old boy due to go on the trip, said he was not happy about the news. "It was going to be a great opportunity. There is a lot of disappointment amongst the group," he said.

A foster mother whose foster son went on the previous Kandu trip to America four years ago said she was really disappointed for the young people.

"My foster son had never been far from Trowbridge before when he went to America," she said.

"It has just changed his life. It brought him so much confidence. The New Zealand trip would have done the most amazing things. I hope and hope that they will be able to do it later."

Mr Deedigan said Kandu is now hoping to take the children in October after the wet season. But Mr Flynn, who in December put on a version of his West End stage show, Jus' Like That!, a tribute to legendary comedian Tommy Cooper, at the Neeld Hall, Chippenham, to help Kandu raise money for the trip, won't be able to go.

"Jerome had specially cleared his diary for Easter," said Mr Deedigan.

A county council spokesman said: "We have been approached by Kandu Arts regarding a proposal to take a number of young people in our care on a trip to New Zealand.

"We have requested additional information in order that an informed decision can be made.

"While there are undoubted benefits for young people in undertaking a trip of this nature, the local authority has a duty to satisfy itself with regard to the arrangements and support necessary to ensure the safety and well-being of the young people concerned while in the care of another organisation.

"The formal request to support this project has only recently been received. The matter is now being considered."