Happy landings as Midland prom battles take to the sky

Most students at Shire Oak Academy may have felt turning up in limousines, a Rolls Royce, a horse and carriage and even a double-decker London bus has set the bar.

But Daniel Batchelor, Joe Carley and Sam Nickless, all aged 16, had other ideas by turning up to their leavers' ball at Moor Hall Hotel in Sutton Coldfield by helicopter.

While pupils in the past may have done battle with their dazzling dresses or smart suits it appears the new craze is arriving in style.

Daniel, a member of the Air Training Corps in Aldridge, flew in with his friends in a Robinson R44 copter booked by his dad Ian and piloted by a family friend.

Click to see your prom pictures from around the West Midlands.

"It was what everybody was talking about on the night. They were pretty envious,'' he said.

"We flew over a big queue of limos and landed right outside. It was like a rock star entrance. I just had this overwhelming feel of 'wow, I've landed in a helicopter. It was a glorious end to five years at school – they'll all remember me now.

"I don't know how anyone's going to top it, they're going to hard to try hard to one-up me. They'd have to parachute in."

He was 'amazingly grateful' to his parents Ian and Joanne, from Aldridge, for the ride.

The helicopter took off from Wolverhampton Halfpenny Green Airport and flew over 20 miles to the hotel.

Prom organiser Carol Waite, a Year 11 assistant pastoral leader at Shire Oak, said this year had been the most extravagant event the Walsall-based school had seen.

"We've never heard of anyone arriving in a helicopter before." she said.

"I've seen a few unusual modes of transport over the years but this year we've had a red London bus, horse and carriage, massive lorry. It seems to be becoming the norm."

Dozens of teenagers have sent us pictures of their big night, including Keeley Harper and Bethan Smith from Moreton School, who wore glittering pink and blue gowns.