Coach carrying schoolchildren bursts into flames

The coach was carrying more than 30 children as well as teachers when it caught fire on an M60 slip road
- Published
A coach carrying schoolchildren and their teachers has caught fire on a motorway slip road, closing the route overnight.
The blaze ripped through the coach, which had more than 30 children onboard, on the M60 slip road at Swinton Interchange in Salford on Wednesday evening, Greater Manchester Police (GMP) said.
The force's traffic team said on X it was "the sort of call we really dread", adding: "Safely evacuated driver and all passengers".
The M61 was closed on the northbound carriageway between Junction 1 and 2 for the M60 until the early hours.
GMP said Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service, North West Ambulance Service and National Highways also attended the scene.
The road was shut for several hours so recovery and clear up works could take place after a coach fire, National Highways said.
An investigation is under way to find out how the fire began.
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