BALLYCLARE’S Straid Primary School set sail this week to Alton Towers thanks to leading ferry company Stena Line.

The excited P7 class headed on their much anticipated adventure after they were crowned winners of the ‘Win a Trip to Alton Towers for your class’ competition which featured in the Sunday Life and on U105 in February and March.

The County Antrim pupils beat off competition from other schools throughout Northern Ireland to collect tokens printed each week in the newspaper as well as listening out for golden bonus tokens when they tuned into the radio station. Thanks to the support from the wider school and local community the Straid Primary pupils collected the most tokens.

The excited pupils set sail last week to Liverpool on the overnight sailing with Stena Line, allowing the pupils to begin their adventure as soon as they stepped onboard, staying in the ferry’s cabins. The lucky winners enjoyed a two–day pass to Alton Towers where they experienced many of the theme park’s attractions including Thirteen, Rita and Sonic Spinball.

Principal of Straid Primary School, Florence Mairs, said: "We had an absolutely fantastic time and would like to thank Stena Line for providing such a brilliant trip. From the moment we stepped onboard the ferry everyone was beyond themselves with excitement and each step of the way we were looked after.

"The Stena Line staff were absolutely fantastic and extremely hospitable both onboard and throughout the planning stages of the trip. This has been an adventure of a lifetime for all of us and it was just great to see how much fun and enjoyment the pupils got from the trip, as well as the bravery they have shown taking on some of the thrill rides at Alton Towers," she added.

Stena Line’s Head of PR and Communications, Diane Poole OBE, said: "We were delighted to host the pupils and teachers of Straid Primary travel onboard Stena Line from Belfast to Liverpool for their trip to Alton Towers. It was great to see the class set sail with beaming smiles on their faces and full of excitement and to hear how much they enjoyed themselves both onboard the ferry and at the theme park."

MEDIA ENQUIRIES: For further information, please contact Kate Ferguson of Duffy Rafferty Communications on
028 9073 0880.