A 15-year-old girl has been killed and five other people have been seriously injured after a coach overturned on a motorway in Central France.

Katherine Fish, from Largs in Ayrshire, died when the coach crashed on the A6 motorway link road at Bierre-les-Semur, near Dijon, at about 0400 BST.

The coach was carrying a party from Largs Academy, who were on their way to Barcelona on a school trip.

Two pupils and three teachers are in hospital in the Dijon area with what are described as "relatively serious" injuries and at least five other people suffered minor injuries.

Katherine Fish lost her life in the accident

One of the injured teachers lost an arm.

The ages of the pupils range from 12 to 15 - there are four girls and two boys injured.

The pupil who died was a 4th year student and had a sister lower down the school.

Her parents arrived at the Academy at about 0700 BST and were given the news of her death by the headteacher and police officers.

The British Consul General in Lyon, Jonathon Noakes, said he had been present when pupils were told that a student had died in the crash.

Helplines for concerned relatives

The Prefecture in Dijon has set up an information line, staffed by English speakers. Dial 00 33 380 446 446. Strathclyde Police have issued an emergency number. It is 0141 532 2828 or 0141 532 2829.

He said: "They were told in a very straightforward yet sensitive way.

"They reacted calmly but obviously they are in a state of deep grief and shock at the moment."

He said plans were in hand to get people home as soon as possible.

Even those who had been slightly injured in the crash could return to Scotland on Friday, he said.

The coach, owned by Allan's Coaches of Gorebridge, Midlothian, was carrying 51 passengers, among them eight adults.

Allan's managing director, David Allan, said he was completely stunned by the tragedy.

It is understood the coach had two drivers, was fitted with seatbelts and was less than one year old.

Airlifted to hospital

The school trip had left the UK on Wednesday and had taken an overnight Channel crossing.

According to French road authorities, conditions at the time of the accident were good and no other vehicle is thought to have been involved.

The French motorway maintenance service believed the coach may have hit the crash barrier on a sliproad and flipped over.

The police at the scene introduced their major emergency plan and the most seriously injured were airlifted to hospitals in the towns of Dijon, Auxerre and Beaune.

Four doctors and 87 firefighters were called to the scene of the crash.

A spokeswoman for the Dijon Prefecture urged families and concerned relatives of the crash victims to contact the information service.

A worried parent hugs a child at the school

A spokesperson for Largs Academy said that the headteacher, George Maxwell, had been speaking to families at the school.

John Travers, North Ayrshire's director of education, said the pupils at the school were putting a brave face on events.

He said: "They are showing remarkable restraint and understanding."

A special information line has been set up for concerned relatives.

Scottish First Minister Jack McConnell and Scottish Secretary Helen Liddell offered their sympathies to the youngsters, teachers and families involved.