Ref. 28248-63CHILDREN who were stranded after a mix-up kept them away from a pantomime are happy again, thanks to Swindon people's kindness and a little help from the Evening Advertiser.

They have been overwhelmed with offers of shows, transport and financial help.

The children, from Moredon Junior School, had been due to see Billy And The Magic Drum on Monday at New College, but were unable to get there after coaches failed to arrive.

New College immediately offered places at other performances, and 50 children and their parents took up the offer on Wednesday night, but timing would have been a problem for many of the other children.

However, since our story appeared on Wednesday the children have also been offered:

l 250 free tickets to the Link Centre's Christmas ice show, The Greatest Musical Of Our Times.

l 50 free tickets to Wroughton Drama Society's pantomime, Little Red Riding Hood, at the Ellendune Centre.

l Help with travel from coach company Dangerfield's which was not the company involved in the original difficulties.

l A cheque for £100 from an anonymous woman in Old Town, who said she was touched by the children's plight.

Headteacher Lauren Connor said: "The response has been absolutely fantastic and we want to say lots and lots of thank yous.

"And we want to say thank you to the Evening Advertiser for running the story.

"New College had offered us tickets for another performance, and some children were able to go, but there were problems with performance times for others.

"But then we were offered 50 tickets for the Wroughton pantomime and 250 tickets for the ice show, as well as £100 from a lady in Old Town."

Ms Connor, accompanied by the head boy and head girl of the school, went to the donor's home with a Christ-mas gift yesterday to offer their thanks in person.

At Swindon Council's Link Centre, ice show business manager Allan Seabrook, who also produces and directs the show, said: "We don't like children to be unhappy, especially at this time of year.

"We saw the story in the Evening Advertiser and decided to help.

"I found we were able to offer 250 free tickets, although not all for the same performance because we don't have enough seating."

The original problem over transport centres around a dispute between the school and Minety coach firm Kinch,

The school says it booked and confirmed five buses, while the firm says no confirmation was given. Nobody at Kinch was available to comment.

Now the school is deciding which show the children will be travelling to.

Barrie Hudson