A group of children from a Midland school have told of their heartbreak after their plans to watch a World Cup match in Germany were scuppered by an alleged ticket scam.

The youngsters from North Bromsgrove High School, in Worcestershire, began a five-day coach trip to Germany last Thursday to watch Ghana play the Czech Republic.

But hours before the match on Saturday the 43 youngsters, who had paid #400 each for the trip, were informed by Shrewsbury-based tour operators Activ4 that its supplier, Tickets For All, had failed to provide the tickets.

Police in Kent and their counterparts in Germany are now investigating Tickets For All.

Lydia Clements, aged 15, a Year 10 pupil at the school, said: "We had all planned to wear our England shirts and take our England flags but then they told us we were not going.

"Everyone was so upset when they told us the news.

"Cologne was lovely but we were so excited about seeing the match, it was what the trip was about.

"We had been planning it for a year. All the teachers were upset too."

The pupils were among a 350 children from schools across the country who had travelled to Germany with Activ4 to watch the game.

A compensation plan is currently being discussed with Activ4.

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