DOZENS of school children and their teachers had a lucky escape after their coach burst into flames on a busy motorway as they returned from a school trip.

As these dramatic images show, the double decker bus was left almost entirely burnt out after breaking down and catching alight.

However all 59 children and seven staff on board escaped without serious injury, with ambulance bosses praising the quick-thinking of a hero coach driver who stopped at the side of the road and helped to evacuate the passengers to safety.

Thirteen children and the coach driver were assessed for smoke inhalation and four ten year old girls were taken by ambulance to Birmingham Children's Hospital but their conditions were not thought to be serious.

The coach caught alight on the M6 northbound at Junction 3a at around 3.40pm on Monday.

A West Midlands Ambulance Service spokesman said: “On arrival crews were greeted by the sight of a double decker bus that had been reduced to smouldering remains.

“Thankfully the 59 children and 7 staff on board, who come from the Black Country, were safely sitting on a second coach that had stopped to offer assistance.

“The trust would like to pay tribute to the Eavesway Travel of Wigan coach driver who spotted the issue, stopped at the side of the motorway and helped evacuate the children.

"He then kept them and their teachers safe on his coach while firefighters dealt with the blaze.

"He then took them to the Motorcycle Museum where they were meeting up with a replacement coach to take them on their way."

He added: “This could clearly have been a much more serious incident but for the quick actions of the coach drivers, teachers and children.”

Two ambulances, a paramedic area support officer and a senior paramedic officer were sent to the scene.