Minehead: Pupil who died in school coach crash was boy, 10, as six children remain in hospital

Summary

A ten-year-old boy has died after a coach returning from a school trip crashed in Exmoor, Somerset
The coach was carrying up to 70 people, many of them pupils from Minehead Middle School, when it flipped onto its roof and slid down a bank yesterday afternoon
Six other children remain in hospital - two at the Bristol Children's hospital and four in Somerset
Three adults are also being treated in hospital in Somerset, police say
The trust which runs the school says it is "devastated", while tributes and flowers are being left outside the grounds
Minehead Middle School and five other schools are shut today and the A396 at Cutcombe Hill is also closed
Prime Minister Keir Starmer calls the incident "heartbreaking" and sends his condolences to the families affected

Live Reporting

Edited by Emma Grimshaw and Emma Hallett, with Harriet Robinson, Sarah Turnnidge, Cheryl Dennis, Sammy Jenkins and Dan Johnson reporting

MP asks public to give emergency services 'space to work'published at 17:27 British Summer Time 17 July

Local MP Rachel Gilmour said in a statement on X: "I have heard news about a distressing road traffic incident around Wheddon Cross this afternoon.
"Emergency services are present, so please give them space to work. My thoughts are with all involved in the incident.
"I advise everyone travelling across Exmoor this afternoon/evening to check their route before beginning their journey."
First images from the scenepublished at 17:25 British Summer Time 17 July

Our reporter Chris Lockyer is at the police cordon and has sent this photo.
Pub 'acting as emergency centre'published at 17:21 British Summer Time 17 July

A nearby pub is acting as an emergency centre for the incident.
The Rest and Be Thankful in Wheddon Cross is supporting emergency services.
Police ask drivers to avoid the scenepublished at 17:20 British Summer Time 17 July

The bus left the road near the junction with Ashwell Lane and Steart Lane.
Avon and Somerset Police said in a statement: "Emergency services have well-rehearsed plans for responding to such incidents.
"We'd please ask people to avoid the area to allow emergency responders to access the scene."
Drivers have been asked to avoid the site of the accident on the A396 Cutcombe Hill, between Wheddon Cross and Timberscombe.
Ambulance service at the scenepublished at 17:15 British Summer Time 17 July

The South Western Ambulance Service (SWAST) said on Facebook said it was attending the crash and described the vehicle involved as a coach.
It advised people to avoid the A396 between Wheddon Cross and Dunster and said it would share updates by social media.
Emergency services responding to bus crashpublished at 17:12 British Summer Time 17 July

Firefighters are trying to free passengers trapped on a bus that left the road on Exmoor.
Emergency services were called to the village of Wheddon Cross, near Minehead in Somerset, at about 15:00 BST on Thursday, Avon and Somerset Police said.
Most of the passengers have now been taken off the bus and Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service are now working to free the remaining occupants.
South Western Ambulance Service are also on the scene but there is no information on the number of casualties or the level of injuries at this stage, police said.