Nearly 50 primary school children were forced to spend the night in a McDonald’s after getting stranded on the M5 during a school trip from London back to Cornwall.
Children from Parc Eglos School in Helston, Cornwall, had stopped at the fast food chain during their coach journey while the driver had a break.
Yet as the year five pupils enjoyed their treats, the police were forced to shut the M5 due to the adverse weather conditions.
The coach driver was also told not to move his vehicle under any circumstances as the snow increased.
Children from Parc Eglos School (pictured) in Helston, Cornwall, were stranded at a McDonald’s when the M5 was closed by police
This was the scene at the M5, Junction 30, yesterday as vehicles lined the motorway
Headteacher Brett Dye praised the staff at McDonald’s, who allowed the 49 children to stay in the restaurant throughout last night, as they handed out free food and drinks.
He said: ‘The children were allowed to stay in the main restaurant as long as they wanted and were given plenty to do. They pulled out all the stoppers, lots of free meals thrown in etc. And forty free drinks.
‘They were prepared to not go home and stay open all night to make sure the children were warm’, he told Cornwall Live.
Major roads in Devon came to a standstill with the M5 southbound blocked along with the A30 in both directions at Okehampton and the A38 eastbound.
The school staff managed to eventually find accommodation but still faced the problem of being unable to move the coach.
Mr Dye rang the Highways Agency who told him that at 6.30pm the M5 junction 28 to 27 would be gritted.
Major roads in Devon came to a standstill with the M5 southbound blocked along with the A30 (pictured) in both directions at Okehampton and the A38 eastbound
Not satisfied with that, the teachers persuaded several police officers to arrange for the hill near the coach to be gritted and allow the driver to move as the authorities escorted him.
The group eventually reached a Travelodge where helpful staff found rooms for the children and asked guests for any spare duvets and bedding.
Mr Dye added: ‘We then moved the children into rooms and they all worked out a way to sleep sensibly in the space we had in each room. As I write this most of them are already asleep.
“So thrilled that by refusing to take no for an answer we were able to keep the children safe and warm for the night.”
The school planned to begin their journey home this morning at around 9am.