A COLLEGE head who had to break the news to 112 youngsters at the eleventh hour that their much anticipated skiing trip was off because of uncertainty over the booking said she is 'bitterly disappointed' for the students.

Helen Salmon, principal of Tavistock College, said she felt awful letting the young people down but it was the right decision in terms of safety.

She said she could not get confirmation that the hotel in Interlaken, Switzerland, was booked from Devon-based organisers Skiing Europe and had to cancel the trip at the last minute.

Parents this week spoke of their 'sheer frustration' about what had happened but said they did not blame the college.

Mrs Salmon, who took over the role as principal in January, said the trip was booked last May and fully paid up but the alarm was raised when confirmation of the booking could not be established.

Staff had tried all Friday morning to rescue the trip by calling Colyton-based Skiing Europe and representatives at the resort.

Mrs Salmon said: 'The company failed to satisfy me that the students had somewhere to stay at the other end. I could not send the children with this sort of uncertainty.

'We had to make this decision in terms of safety but I realise how horrible it was for the students. They were shocked and devastated. It is something they had been looking forward to for a long time.'

The college confirmed that it had referred the matter to trading standards and was taking legal advice. Devon County Council, as the local education authority, is investigating the matter and working with the college.

Mrs Salmon said parents, who had paid around £800 for the trip, would be refunded through insurance and she was doing all she could to try and reschedule.

Mhairi McCall said this was her 15-year-old daughter Fiona's first skiing trip and the family had 'spent an absolute fortune' on clothing and equipment. 'I don't suppose we will see that money again,' she said.

'My other two children had been on their big trips, Fiona is my third child and this was her turn. Yes she was annoyed at first, but she is very accepting. There was sheer frustration at the time but we do not blame the college.'

Student Erin Midson-Holmes said at first she thought it was a wind-up: 'We realised pretty quickly that it was not a joke and then people just started crying and getting angry and some just walked out. Everyone was devastated.'

Erin's mother, Karen, said it had been 'a struggle' to find the money for the trip but it was Erin's last year at school and her one big chance. All her Christmas presents were equipment for the trip.

A statement from Skiing Europe said the firm was 'extremely upset at the disappointment for the children'. It insisted it had not cancelled the holiday and that 'an excellent hotel was available for the group'.

Mid Devon Coaches, which had been booked to take the children to their destination, said the first it knew of the cancellation was from a parent.

'The coaches were just outside Tavistock, taking their 45-minute break and ready to go on Friday,' said owner Lynette Hamilton. 'The information that the trip was cancelled came from the parents on their way home.'

Mrs Hamilton said she had been advised legally to make no further comment.

A meeting will be held at the college on Monday evening for all parents affected by the cancelled trip. The parents have been notified.