Three Chelmsford boys were left tearful at the windows of their homes as a coach-load of their pals zoomed off for a fun day in France - all because their passports had not arrived in time.

Adam Langley, nine, a cub with the 15th Chelmsford was in tears again three hours after the coach left for Le Touquet - because his passport arrived in the 9am post last Saturday.

The boys had become just three of the thousands of victims of the blunders caused when the passport agency introduced a new computerised system.

Brothers, cub Stuart and scout Andrew Young were also left behind when more than 40 scouts and cubs went to a great day's fun at the Bagatelle theme park in France.

Adam's mum Jacky said on Friday: "We heard a new special number on the radio after waiting seven weeks for his passport.

Eventually we got through on Friday night and to their credit they treated it as a priority. But the coach left at 6am and the mail did not come until 9am and the passport was there.

"We tried other ways to try and get him to go. The port of Dover said they would let him through without a passport but with other identification, but the ferry company said they could not take the risk.

"This has given a bad impression to Adam who can't understand why as a young citizen of the European Union he as an English boy cannot travel freely across EU countries without a passport as French, Dutch, Belgians, Germans, and others may."

Britain remains outside the free movement regulations in Europe as part of its war against drugs and contraband.

A fun day in France is missed because the boys' passports arrived too late - pictured from left to right, cubs Stuart Young and Adam Langley and scout Andrew Young.

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