“Gutted” kids at a Stroud Green primary school were left empty-handed when their yearbooks failed to turn up – due to a dispute between parents and the printing company.

Parents at Ashmount Primary School had splashed out £235 to buy a memento for every child in Year 6, but grew concerned when the hardback printer, an online company they’d commissioned to make the books, missed promised delivery dates.

Suzie Zuber, one of the Year 6 mums who organised the phantom yearbook, told the Gazette: “The children were all gutted because they were really looking forward to it.

“It was supposed to be a book of memories and they could not believe what happened. They were so disappointed.”

The yearbooks didn’t arrive in time for the children’s last assembly at school, July 20, and the youngsters were left to pay for new ones using £500 they had raised for the school through bake sales.

In a subsequent letter to parents offering a partial refund, also seen by the Gazette, Hardback Printer Ltd claims the order fell through because the artwork it received was “late and wrong”.

But ahead of printing, in a letter about the detailed print specifications, it had told the group: “Please do not worry if you are struggling with any of this as we have a full blown studio that can help with fixing any artwork problems if required.”

It had also told parents the books would be printed and delivered by 1pm on July 20.

Suzie said staff were initially polite and accommodating, but became unpleasant and even threatened to sue her when she chased them over missed deadlines.

“I’ve been unsettled by the experience,” she said. “They said the books were just my vanity project and had nothing to do with the kids.”

The company declined to give us a formal statement but pointed us towards the letter it had sent parents offering the 50 per cent refund. It also sent the Gazette contact details for more than 30 previous clients, including names and telephone numbers.