A Malvern headteacher has praised his pupils for their bravery and self-control after their bus was involved in a crash.

Peter Buchanan, head of Dyson Perrins CE High School, received a call on Friday morning telling him of the collision.

"A colleague and myself dashed to the car and drove to the scene straight away," he said.

"When I got there, some of the pupils had been taken off the bus and were being checked over for injuries but the majority were still sitting calmly in their places.

"I must congratulate all my pupils for staying calm and co-operating with each other in the aftermath of the accident. I'm very proud of them all."

Mr Buchanan said Claire Parslow, 15, deserved special mention.

"Claire was great," he said. "She had control of the entire upper deck of the bus. She was reassuring pupils and collecting their names for the police."

The accident took place at around 8.30am at the junction of Quest Hills Road and Howsell Road, when the First Midland Red double-decker bus was in collision with a Peugeot 206.

The driver of the Peugeot was taken to the accident and emergency department at Worcester Royal Hospital with minor injuries. Although none of the children on the bus were seriously hurt, several were suffering from shock.

"A number of the children were shaken up by the accident but they all coped incredibly well," said Mr Buchanan.

"They are a credit to their parents and the school," he said.

Police are appealing for witnesses to the accident to contact them on 08457 444888, quoting reference 90S/100904.