John Bailey, of Ingrow, who has a 15-year-old and a 12-year-old at the school, complained when his son and daughter arrived home soaked to the skin.

He says: "I have no problem with the school raising money but I think the walk should have been put off to another day."

"When I contacted the school I was told it was fine when they set off. Logic says that if the rain gets heavy you turn the walkers back.

"When my children got home they were like drowned rats."

Head teacher Conor Davis says the organisers were upset that things went wrong and staff were as wet as the students.

"I don't particularly think it is a good idea to do these things," he admits.

"But we don't have sufficient funds in the school to do all the things we want to do."

Mr Davis says an annual sponsored walk raises sufficient cash to pay for running and maintenance costs for the school mini-bus, and says it was a great shame the weather spoiled this year's event.

He says: "The organisers felt at the time that we would get away with it. Sadly the heavens opened. The walkers were out and it was too late."

He says children were told quite clearly to come appropriately dressed but not all did so.

"We will have to review things and see if there is anything to be learned," he commented.

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