A FENLAND bus company was praised for the way it handled travel arrangements for students after their coach was vandalised prior to its return to England.

A FENLAND bus company was praised for the way it handled travel arrangements for students after their coach was vandalised prior to its return to England.

Students from Marshland High School and Neale Wade Community College were forced to abandon their trip through the Channel Tunnel and take a ferry instead after their coach was vandalised.

Martin Field, one of the Neale Wade teachers in charge of the trip, praised Towlers Coaches of Emneth for helping to resolve the issue.

He said the coach company dealt with it in efficient way and helped to organise an alternative method of transport back to this country.

“We hope they manage to get the damage to their coach repaired without too many problems,” he said.

The coach had been ferrying students from near Utrecht back to England but on Saturday- the final night of the five day exchange visit- the coach was vandalised.

Instead of students coming home via the Channel Tunnel, a Dutch coach was hired to take the students to the Hook of Holland for a sea crossing to Harwich.

“The students have coped with the change of plans stoically and many were even pleased as they enjoy the six hour ferry journey so much,” said Mr Field.

“Although the departure was delayed it still featured the usual hugs and tears as students said farewell to their host families and friends.”

Mr Field said Neale Wade and Marshland teachers were grateful to their Dutch counterparts and the host families for looking after them so well “and being so helpful in sorting out the difficulties they faced”.

The Fenland students met their Dutch counterparts last year, part of a series of exchanges.