Bus carrying children hits bridge

15 March 2011 Last updated at 14:09 The roof of the bus was completely torn off by the bridge Several children have been injured when a school bus crashed into a railway bridge in Derbyshire.

The roof of the double-decker bus was ripped off on Works Road, Hollingwood, Chesterfield, at about 0835 GMT.

Eighteen children were taken to hospital, many with facial wounds. One was seriously hurt but the injuries are not thought to be life-threatening.

The TM Travel bus was carrying about 20 children to St Mary's Catholic High School in Chesterfield.

Police said they were trying to establish whether the bus should have been using the route

Police would not comment on why the bus was using the route, but confirmed the matter was being investigated with the assistance of the Vehicle and Operator Services Agency.

Witness Keith Evans, who arrived at the scene soon after the crash, said the roof of the bus "was at one side of the bridge and the bus was at the other".

"There was a load of debris, children were crying, quite a bit of blood from some of the children," he said.

"We grabbed hold of a young lad who was standing by the side of me - all his teeth were missing. He had a really bad gash under his chin and blood on his head, so I got him a towel and sat him on the floor."

"There were about three or four children walking about wounded with blood on their heads."

Parents informed

Sheila Chamberlain, whose 13-year-old son attends St Mary's, said she was "grateful" her son had not been hurt but she wanted to know how the accident had happened.

"What was going on? A double-decker bus going under a bridge like that," she said.

A spokesperson for the school said the parents of all children injured had been informed.

In a statement on the St Mary's website, head teacher Sean McClafferty said: "This morning the 144 bus was involved in an accident on the way in to school.

"I have just returned from Calow hospital where 18 of our pupils had been admitted after the incident.

"It is my understanding that only one child is being kept in overnight for observation."

No-one from TM Travel has been available for comment.

A.nemdil & Press Agencies