Coach carrying Isle students crashes on the way to Alton Towers

Youngsters from the Axholme Academy were on their way to Alton Towers this morning when the driver of the coach fell ill and crashed in to the central reservation on the M1.

A member of staff was able to take control of the wheel of the coach, which was just one of three transporting pupils to the amusement park, and all children and staff were reported as safe.

Paramedics arrived on the scene to tend to the driver and check students for minor injuries.

The school kept parents informed of what was happening shortly after the incident by posting updates on their website. Parents of children on the coach were also contacted individually.

At 10.10am, a post said a replacement coach had been sent from Scunthorpe to collect everyone on the coach and take them back to the school, on Wharf Road, Crowle.

An updated post shortly afterwards said: “We would like to offer any personal support that is needed. Following this, parents will be able to take their children home. We will take children home where there are transport difficulties.”

The coach returned to the school at 12.45pm. A post an hour later said: “Students and parents were reunited in the school hall and were given the option of going home.

“The three members of staff on the coach handled the situation extremely well and were equally relieved to get back home.

“The children on the coach were an absolute credit to themselves in the way they conducted themselves immediately after the event and in the following hours when they had to wait for a replacement coach