AN investigation is under way into claims youngsters on an environmental activities trip were driven into the Northern Ireland countryside and left to find their way back to their hostel.

The seven 12 to 14-year-olds, from Moorside Youth Group, in Consett, County Durham, were on a half-term break in Downpatrick, County Down.

They say they were dumped because youth leaders were tired of their poor behaviour and wanted to teach them a lesson by leaving them on their own.

But the move backfired when the bus broke down shortly after dropping them off.

One boy rang his mother to tell her what had happened. Sonia Welling said after her 12-year-old son, Paul, called her, she rang police.

She said: "I was told the supervisors had only meant to teach the children a lesson, but the bus had broken down a little way from where they had left the children and they had meant to go back for them.

"I was so angry."

Paul, a Newcastle United under-12s academy team player, said seven youngsters who had been "playing around'' were told they were going out. He said: "We were in the middle of nowhere, it was raining and there weren't even any street lights.

"We were really frightened.

"We hid in the bushes when any cars came past because we were scared. We ended up walking for an hour along a road until we came to a village.''

A resident took the youngsters to a police station and social services were called before the youngsters returned to the hostel at 2am.

David Williams, director of Children's Services for Durham County Council, which sponsors the group, said: "I am very concerned at these reports and have instigated a robust inquiry to establish the full facts surrounding this alleged incident.

"Once the facts are known, any action that is considered necessary or appropriate will be taken."