A coach carrying a group of schoolchildren has crashed on the M1 in Leicestershire, smashing through the motorway's central reservation.

The accident injured 12 children and two adults travelling on the coach. Another 27 children were unhurt.

The group was one of two coaches taking pupils from Kilburn Junior School to Gravelines, near Calais in northern France.

The accident happened just before 9.30am slightly south of junction 23 at Loughborough.

The coach's driver and the teacher had to be cut free of the wreckage. Both suffered leg injuries.

The adults and children were taken to Leicester Royal Infirmary for treatment.

The headteacher at Kilburn Junior School, Glyn Julian, said he was relieved the children aged seven to 11-years-old had suffered no more than cuts and bruises in the crash.

Mr Julian, who was travelling in the smaller coach, said: "We are deeply shocked but we are relieved that it appears none of our children have been seriously hurt.

"They have coped very well and were well behaved," he said.

The week-long trip has now been cancelled.

A Leicestershire police spokesman said the coach had collided with a lorry.

He said: "The coach then crossed the central reservation, crossed all three lanes of the northbound carriageway and came to rest on the nearside embankment on the northbound carriageway."

Inspector Michael Allen, of the Leicestershire traffic department, said: "It's hard to believe there were so few serious injuries. The accident investigation unit are now trying to find out exactly how the accident happened although it will take some considerable time for this to be completed."

�

Back to top | BBC News Home | BBC Homepage | �