College bus crashes into field

A college bus with more than 50 students on board has crashed and rolled into a field in Dorset.

The double-decker was travelling from Kinson in Bournemouth when it crashed on the A350 near Poole at 8.15am. Of the 56 pupils on board, five were taken to hospital, along with the driver, the South Western Ambulance Service said.

The bus, registered to a Plymouth-based company, was heading for Kingston Maurward College in Dorchester.

The students who were not injured were taken to a "place of safety" to await a replacement bus service, Dorset Police said.

A South Western Ambulance Trust spokesman said: "The trust received a call at 8.17am to a road traffic collision involving a bus, which overturned whilst travelling on the A350.

"The bus was carrying students on their way to a local college. The trust committed a number of ambulances to the scene and a total of six casualties have been taken to Poole Hospital.

"None of the casualties are thought to be in a life-threatening condition. There are a number of patients thought to be walking wounded and they will be treated by ambulance clinicians at a location near to where the incident occurred."

A Dorset Police spokesman said the casualties received "minor injuries". Kingston Maurward College principal Clare Davison said: "The safety and well-being of our students is our top priority and obviously we are extremely concerned about this incident.

"We have set up a team at the college and we are liaising directly with the emergency services. The police have informed us that a small number of our students on the First buses Route D bus from Kinson have been taken to hospital with minor injuries."

Parents and guardians concerned about the incident have been told to contact a helpline set up by Kingston Maurward College on 07894 751 302.