Elderly friends accidentally take 350-mile train journey after day out in London

89-year-olds Mollie Muetzel and Kathleen Lowndes accidentally got a train to York after a day out in London

Fortunately, the pair enjoyed their unexpected detour (Dan Kitwood/Getty Images)

Two elderly friends from Hertfordshire who took a trip to London for afternoon tea took a wrong turn on their way back and had to sit through a four-hour round trip to York, almost 200 miles away.

89-year-old friends Mollie Muetzel and Kathleen Lowndes, who have known each other since secondary school, took the train from Knebworth to London for an early birthday treat - afternoon tea at the Savoy Hotel.

On their return, however, in the chaos of rush hour in central London, the two got the wrong train - extending their short 30-minute journey to a four-hour epic.

Speaking to the Herts and Essex Observer, Ms Muetzel said they stopped a staff member and asked how to get back home from the next station after the train had left King's Cross

However, the train turned out to be non-stop, leaving them with no other choice than to go all the way to York.

Ms Muetzel told the paper: "The man came to us and said 'I'm awfully sorry but we can't stop as it's a fast train.'"

"He said to sit back, relax and enjoy the journey, though, as they were going to take good care of us."

Clearly not full after their afternoon tea, the pair had more snacks and refreshments on their way to York.

Upon their arrival, they were taken by another staff member to a train to Stevenage, and were back at Ms Lownde's house in Knebworth by 10PM that night.

Despite the unplanned journey, the pair actually enjoyed their detour, telling the paper they were "pampered".

"It makes a change to praise British Rail," Ms Muetzel said.