UPDATED: Bus carrying 70 school children crashes with lorry on A120

Emergency services were called to the Harwich-bound carriageway at Great Bromley, shortly before the A133 turn-off, at about 10.10am yesterday.

Three adults and four children were taken to hospital for check ups for cuts and bruises sustained during the crash, which also caused damage to the front of the bus.

Ross Newman, director of Purfleet-based Ensignbus, said there were no serious injuries to the passengers or the driver.

He said: “We don’t know what happened yet, but the vehicle has CCTV with audio and video, so once we look at the hard drive we will know exactly what happened, as will the police.

“As far as we are aware there were no serious injuries but three adults and four children were taken to hospital for a check-up for cuts and bruises.

“There were 78 passengers in total, so there were approximately 70 children on the bus.

“We are relieved there were no serious injuries - our prime consideration is the passengers.”

The pupils were from a school in Tottenham and were due to visit Clacton for the day.

A replacement bus took them back to London and a minibus collected those who went to hospital.

A spokesman for the East of England Ambulance Service said four ambulances were called to the scene and it is understood a number of people were also treated at the roadside.

The lorry shed its load of scaffolding poles in the crash.

The road was closed until shortly before the evening rush hour while an investigation took place and the vehicles were recovered. It caused miles of traffic queues.

Essex Police has appealed for witnesses to come forward.

A spokesman said: “A bus, carrying children and adults was in collision with a lorry. No-one is believed to have been seriously injured but a number of people were treated by paramedics for minor injuries.”

Witnesses who saw the collision or have dash cam footage are asked to call officers at Essex Police on 101 quoting incident 373 of 02/07.