YOUNG footballers had a lucky escape when the suspension broke on a bus bringing them back from a European tournament.

Fifty-three members of Bury Rangers Junior FC were about to travel home from Dover in a double-decker that could have overturned at any moment.

Worried club officials contacted the Department of Transport from the ferry bringing the teams back from Calais. They put an immediate stop on the vehicle moving on.

Now the club is considering legal moves to get back part of the £28,000 paid for the club trip to Belgium.

Club chairman, Mr Paul Mainwaring, is urging parents and officials of similar clubs to: "check, check and check again" transport arrangements for similar trips.

He said: "We were slightly taken aback by the tatty condition of the coach and double-decker bus which collected us. "But the trip was organised by a FIFA accepted travel agency and we were assured that the coach company was experienced."

As the double decker was being driven onto the ferry, officials heard a loud bang from the rear.

The driver said there was nothing to worry about, but officials contacted the Ministry of Transport from on-board the ferry.

"Ministry examiners said that part of the rear suspension had broken. If it hit a pothole or small bump on the way home it could collapse, causing the bus to overturn," revealed Mr Mainwaring.

While some of the children joined adults in the second vehicle and continued their journey, others had to wait in Dover until more transport could be arranged.

"We contacted one of our sponsors, Wallace Arnold, who arranged transport through local companies and eventually arrived home eight hours later," said Mr Mainwaring.

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