A GENEROUS benefactor has offered to reimburse a school for children with learning difficulties which was left out of pocket after buying tickets for a cancelled Christmas wonderland experience.

The donor, who wishes to remain anonymous, contacted The Northern Echo after reading the story about 60 pupils from Mowbray School who were due to visit Yorkshire’s Magical Winterland in Harrogate's Great Yorkshire Showground.

The school paid Yorkshire’s Magical Winterland £590 for advance tickets, but the day before they were due to go photos of the attraction were brought to the attention of horrified parents who contacted the school.

Headteacher Jonathan Tearle told The Northern Echo the trip had been arranged as a trip for the school’s younger pupils.

He said: “Before we went, parents got in touch after seeing pictures on the news of the awful facilities and they felt it was too dangerous to send children there.”

Mr Tearle said he made the difficult decision to cancel – but managed to book the children into a rival Christmas experience at Wetherby’s Stockeld Park.

The new trip was paid for out of the school budget so both the school and parents were both out of pocket as Yorkshire’s Magical Winterland went into voluntary liquidation shortly afterwards.

But thanks to the kindness of a stranger, it can now re-coup the cash.

Mr Tearle said: “When I got the message from The Northern Echo to say someone had offered to reimburse us I couldn’t believe it.

“It is very kind and put a smile on my face immediately. I know our staff, children and parents will be delighted to hear that our story touched someone’s heart so much they felt moved to donate the money.

“We are very grateful and I want to pass on a message of thanks to this very generous benefactor.”

Mr Tearle said because the Harrogate event was held at the Great Yorkshire Showground he expected to be of good quality – but is still hoping to get some money back from the organisers.

He said: “I think they should admit it was not up to scratch and give us a refund.”

A statement on Yorkshire’s Magical Winterland website said: “The directors of the company have instructed Walsh Taylor Business & Corporate Recovery Specialists to assist in placing the company into Creditors Voluntary Liquidation.

“Walsh Taylor is currently reviewing the company records with a view to determining the creditors of the company, upon which the relevant creditors will be notified of a creditors meeting.

“In the meantime if you are a creditor of the company please contact Walsh Taylor at creditors.ymw@walshtaylor.co.uk.”