A major incident had been declared after a school bus crash in County Down on Monday afternoon.
Police and emergency services were at the scene at Ballyblack Road East in Newtownards.
The bus was carrying 43 school children, as well as the driver.
Four children were taken to hospital with non-life threatening injuries.
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Eve Rosato has been at the scene of the crash and spoke on BBC Newsline about what happened today.
A double-decker bus carrying more than 40 school children has crashed in County Down.
Northern Ireland Secretary Hilary Benn has taken to X (formerly Twitter) to say he is "deeply concerned" to hear about the crash.
"Our thoughts and prayers are with all those involved and their families, and with the emergency services who are on the scene," he posts.
Image source, PA MediaAlliance MLA Nick Mathison says his thoughts are with all of the pupils impacted by this afternoon's crash.
"We want to thank the police and the emergency services who responded so quickly to what has undoubtedly been a major and serious incident," he adds.
He also advises locals to avoid the road at this time.
We've just received an update from the South Eastern Trust.
It says the major incident which was declared earlier is now over.
But, it adds, staff at the emergency department at the Ulster Hospital are still treating those involved in the crash.
Health Minister Mike Nesbitt has taken to X (formerly Twitter) to praise the response of emergency services.
"Heartfelt thanks to all emergency crews attending the bus crash outside Carrowdore and the hospital staff caring for the most injured," he says.
Nesbitt says he is receiving regular updates on the incident.
Image source, PA MediaDUP councillor for Bangor East and Donaghdee James Cochrane says his "prayers are with all of those affected by the events of today".
"I was shocked and deeply concerned to learn of the incident that occurred on the Ballyblack Road East outside Newtownards.
"I would like to put on record my thanks to the emergency services for their response and would urge all road users to avoid the area.”
Chris Page
BBC News Ireland correspondent
Parents have been arriving at the crash scene this evening.
The latest we have is that most of the school children have not sustained any injuries, or only sustained minor injuries.
A number were treated for more serious injuries at the scene and of those, four need hospital treatment.
We have seen a helicopter take off here in the last half hour to airlift some patients to hospital.
Some parents at the scene have expressed thanks and relief that the emergency services reacted so quickly.
UUP councillor Peter Wray describes the incident as "a big shock".
Speaking on BBC Radio Ulster's Evening Extra, he says he has had conversations with Strangford College.
"The school's response is that they are asking parents not to go to the scene and are encouraging people to go the the school.
"When this affects so many young people it can cause some panic, including myself as my daughter goes to the school, so when things like this happen you ultimately think the worst.
"We do know it was one bus and no other vehicles involved."
Dylan, who was on the bus, says it "hit a post", before starting to "stall" and go "down the hill".
"It just started shaking. I closed my eyes and then I opened them and I was on the floor.”
“The first thing I did when I got up was to phone my mum," he adds.
Dylan's mum Stacey says she could hear her son "screaming that he had crashed".
"I could hear all the kids in the background screaming. It was awful.”
Cormac Campbell
BBC News NI at Strangford College
Strangford Integrated College remains open this evening after the school set up an incident desk following this afternoon's accident.
A small police presence was also on site with a multi-agency meeting believed to be ongoing inside the school.
No one at the school was available for interview but a school statement issued to the BBC says: “Our focus is on the safety and wellbeing of all the children and young people in Strangford Integrated College and the Translink driver.”
The South Eastern Health and Social Care Trust says its teams in the Emergency Department in the Ulster Hospital are treating "a number of patients" who were involved in the crash.
"We would ask any patient not requiring emergency care to please use alternative services," its statement adds.
"If your condition is life-threatening, please visit the Emergency Department at the Ulster Hospital, as normal."
"The Education Authority can confirm that a road traffic collision involving an Ulsterbus carrying pupils from Strangford College occurred in the Ballyblack Road East near Newtownards at just after 4pm this afternoon.
“Police and emergency services were called to scene. We are liaising with partner agencies and the school impacted to provide support at this difficult time.
"Our thoughts go out to all of those impacted by the events.”
Jim Shannon, the DUP MP for the area, has "urged the community to join together and pray for the children" on the bus.
"While we don't know much, we know that this is a major incident," he says.
"We are unsure of the scale, however the fear is palpable.
"The South Eastern Trust has declared a major incident and we would ask that, unless necessary, people are mindful of attending the Ulster Hospital."
Image source, PacemakerThe latest information from the Northern Ireland Ambulance Service says that 43 school children were on the bus and one driver.
Four patients will require hospital treatment and the rest should be discharged at scene.
NIAS has now “stood down” the crash as a major incident but will "remain busy for many hours" as they deal with the backlog of calls.
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Image source, Social MediaAt approximately 16:00 BST, a double-decker school bus carrying more than 40 passengers, mostly school children, crashed on the Ballyblack Road East in Newtownards.
Pictures on social media show the vehicle on its side in a field having left the road.
The road is closed and motorists are asked to avoid the area.
You can find out more details from watching BBC Newsline live by clicking play at the top of this page.
A Translink spokesperson confirms that the bus was an "Ulsterbus service carrying school pupils from Strangford College to Bangor".
The incident occurred just after 16:00 BST, Translink says.
"PSNI and emergency services have been called to the scene," the spokesperson adds.
Image source, Woodrow MayesWelcome to our live coverage after a double-decker school bus crashed in County Down.
The Northern Ireland Ambulance Service (NIAS) has declared it a "major incident".
It said the bus was carrying 43 school children, as well as the driver.
Four of those will "require hospital treatment".
We'll bring you the latest throughout the evening as emergency services continue to work at the scene of the crash at Ballyblack Road East in Newtownards.