Reports of a group of schoolchildren going missing in the Brecon Beacons last week have prompted memories of a similar incident five years ago.

Pupils from St Albans School found themselves at the centre of national media attention after they went missing in the Brecon Beacons while completing their silver Duke of Edinburgh award.

The school denied that they were ever ‘lost’, despite a four hour search and rescue operation.

But, a source told the Herts Advertiser about a similar incident in 2011 when a group of pupils, also from St Albans School, became lost.

The former pupil, who did not want to be named, said: “It’s a running joke, but basically when my year did D of E we also got slightly lost in the Brecon Beacons, not quite to that extent but we had to sleep in the middle of nowhere because the teachers couldn’t find us.”

They continued: “We were on our own until dawn when a teacher came and found us as soon as it got light. He knew roughly where we were.”

The source was quick to add that they were never in any danger, saying, “no one was ill and we didn’t have to call mountain rescue and it was a much smaller group. But essentially the same thing! Can’t believe STABS [St Albans Boys School] have done it again!”

A spokesman for the school said: “In 2011, a group of Duke of Edinburgh gold pupils encountered navigation challenges, a common experience for many who have undertaken their DofE award.

“As the evening progressed, it was clear the group was unlikely to reach camp site before nightfall and were instructed to camp in their current location, again reflecting the DofE’s correct procedure in such a situation.

“A member of staff met the group and camped overnight alongside them. The following morning, the staff member walked with the pupils to meet a minibus and returned them to the camp site they were originally heading for.”