Fife Council yet to establish how school party managed to leave boy behind at safari park

Fife Council says it is still investigating how a five-year-old boy was left behind on a school trip to a safari park.

Owen Paterson was found by a security guard at Blair Drummond Safari Park near Stirling last Monday after buses from Dunfermline’s Pitcorthie Primary School left without him.

As we reported, the mistake wasn’t spotted until the school party got back to Fife and Owen’s mum asked where he was.

The youngster said that he played on rides before he was found safe and well.

The Care Inspectorate branded the incident as “alarming” and Fife Council launched an immediate investigation.

Now, more than a week on, the authority says that its inquiry is continuing.

A spokesman said: “The investigation is continuing and we cannot say anything further.”