A SCHOOLBOY is celebrating being given World Cup quarter-final tickets after being caught up in an alleged ticket fraud.

Charlie Perry, 12, was part of a 40-pupil group from Woolwich Polytechnic which travelled to Germany to watch Ghana play the Czech Republic.

But the children were left stunned on arrival after their tour operator revealed it had fallen victim to an "international ticket scam" according to tour operators Activ 4, which meant the boys could not watch the match.

Kent Police were initially investigating whether a business in Swanley was responsible for the fraud.

Thames Valley Police are now handling the case and last week two people from Slough, Berkshire, were arrested and released on police bail. They must return next month pending further inquiries as part of an investigation into obtaining £60,000 by deception for non-existent World Cup tickets.

But now pupils are celebrating after the news they will get to see a World Cup match.

Lynne Perry says her son Charlie is "over the moon".

The administration assistant was told Tony Blair, Sports Minister Richard Caborn and FIFA president Sepp Blatter stepped in to help.

Final details are not yet confirmed but the pupils have been told by the Department of Culture, Media and Sport they will watch a quarter-final game free-of-charge.

British Airways will fly the 350 pupils to Germany and back for free.

Single mother Miss Perry, of Alnwick Road, Lee, struggled to raise the £385 needed to pay for the trip.

She learnt about the ticket fiasco after Charlie sent her a text message from Germany.

The 41-year-old said: "He is over the moon. Charlie has not been able to watch a World Cup match since as it was so upsetting watching it at home.

"I had been saying my prayers and was ecstatic when I heard the news."

Woolwich Polytechnic deputy headteacher David Powell said: "This is something we never thought would happen. The boys are ecstatic at the prospect of being able to see a match."