SEVERAL children were treated for shock after their school coach left the road and hit a telegraph pole in an incident involving a flatbed lorry.

Following the collision, which occurred between Childswickham and Mount Pleasant, the coach driver called police to say that there were no injuries before continuing the five-minute journey to Bredon Middle School.

Upon arrival at the school in Ashton-under-Hill the children had to leave the coach through the emergency exit and some of them were found to be suffering the effects of delayed shock.

The lorry, which had been travelling in the opposite direction at the time of the collision at 8am on Wednesday, January 7, did not make contact with the coach but left the scene soon after the incident. Police have now launched a bid to find the vehicle.

Head teacher Dave Doubtfire, praised the quick thinking of the coach driver and his response to the incident. "It was only because of his excellent driving that the situation was not worse. He did excellently well to keep the children calm and get them to school safely. Also, the children deserve credit for being so well-behaved and calm."

Police spokesman Richard Bull said: "Based on the driver's assessment that there were no injuries and that it was safe to continue his journey, officers did not attend the scene. We do not immediately deploy officers for non-injury road incidents, particularly - as in this instance - when we know the vehicle will have left the scene.

"It became apparent only later when the coach reached the school that some passengers had received minor injuries and that the children had to disembark through the coach's emergency exit."

Pupils on the coach described the lorry, possibly a Volvo, as white, old and dirty, with white panels running up the side bearing green writing. It is believed to have been carrying orange and blue plastic barrels and a number of pipes and could also have had orange lifting equipment immediately behind the cab.