WORCESTER bingo lovers who had their eyes down for a day out claim the trip turned into a fiasco when their coach got lost on the way there - and broke down on the way back.

There was a full house on the coach to Cardiff, organised by Worcester's Gala Bingo club. But the driver's antics left the 53-strong party fuming.

One of the party, pensioner Fred Norton, said they were assured an hour-and-a-half's drive was on the cards.

But he claimed the Commandery coach was still driving around the Welsh capital in search of the Gala Bingo hall well after the scheduled arrival time.

"We went up and down every street in Cardiff umpteen times," said Mr Norton. "We went round and round in circles."

The 76-year-old said the driver had to enlist the help of a taxi driver, who drove ahead of the coach and led it to the hall.

Once they eventually arrived at the venue, they were so late their meal was ruined and the entertainment act had gone home, said Mr Norton, of The Heath, Holt Heath.

To make things worse, after the group had made the best of the day, they broke down on the journey home.

"The driver didn't say anything - we were wondering what had happened," said Mr Norton.

He said the bemused bingo fans finally got home at 8pm, two-and-a-half hours later than expected.

"It was an absolute disaster," said Mr Norton. "Everyone was up in arms about it."

Colin Ricalton, manager of Worcester's Gala club, said the breakdown was unfortunate but he had spoken to Commandery Coaches about the problem finding the club.

"These events are very popular with our customers," he said. "It's the first time this has ever happened to us, and we're at a loss as to how it happened.

"We're organising letters of apology and giving out gift vouchers as compensation."

Martin Rowley, a partner at Commandery Coaches, said the problem was caused by going to the wrong bingo hall in Cardiff.

"The driver of the coach has 25 years' experience," he said.

"Cardiff is the capital of Wales, so it's a big city, and we were on the wrong side of it."