BOSSES at a North Yorkshire holiday firm have apologised to a coachload of pop fans after their trip to see a Robbie Williams gig turned into a much longer night than they had bargained for.

And Beryl Thorbinson, of Haxby, who was on the trip, says she and everyone else on the coach trip should be compensated after the trip was "completely spoiled."

Beryl, a big fan of Robbie, who is riding high in the charts with Eternity, bought her ticket for the Manchester gig from Principle Holidays Direct, based at Roecliffe, near Boroughbridge.

Their general manager, Garry Naylor, has since promised to launch an inquiry and "look at the issue of compensation."

Beryl, who lives on The Avenue, claims the July 27 trip - which was supposed to pick the Robbie fans up at 3pm and have them back in York before midnight - went like this:

The coach arrived 45 minutes late meaning everyone on it missed the support band, 1980s New Romantics ABC

lWhen the gig goers went back to the pick up point at 10.30pm, the coach and driver were nowhere to be seen

Beryl said she felt "very vulnerable" as she and friend Heather Williams were left alone in Manchester late at night

The coach finally arrived at 12.15am - but with a different driver - and he got lost on the way back, finally arriving in York at 3.30am.

Beryl said: "It was disgusting. What should have been a 90-minute return journey took three-and-a-half hours.

"Some people on the coach had to be at work for 6.30am that morning.

"This should have been a memorable occasion for us but instead it was ruined. I certainly feel we should receive some compensation."

Garry Naylor, general manager at Principle Holidays Direct, apologised for the inconvenience and said he would contact everyone on the trip.

He added: "From what I can gather the drivers were to take a 'leg' each, but the second driver got lost and was not sure where the venue was - though it had been explained.

"When you consider the amount of traffic there would have been at that time, as well as the crowds of people, things would have been made even more difficult for him.

"However, I have launched an enquiry which will continue when I get the report from the coach company.

"We do not like things like this to happen - we are a professional company and we like things to be spot on," Mr Naylor added.

Updated: 11:42 Wednesday, August 15, 2001