M25 coach crash: Dozens injured, three seriously

A total of 41 people were taken to hospital after the coach overturned at the Swanley junction

Dozens of passengers have been taken to hospital - three with serious injuries - after the coach they were travelling in overturned on the M25.

Seven children were among those hurt when the vehicle came off the motorway at Swanley, Kent at 16:00 BST.

The crash was on the anti-clockwise carriageway near junction three.

The road was closed for emergency crews to attend the crash site. Kent Police later said a baby boy was born at the scene in the queuing traffic.

Kent Fire and Rescue Service crews had to use cutting gear to free two people trapped.

'Stuck underneath'

Eyewitness Mitchell Melvin helped rescue some of those on board.

"We quickly jumped up, smashed a back window, was pulling people off the back, realised that some people were stuck underneath where they've come out of the side of the coach, so we went down the side and started taking people out from the side as well", he said.

Andrei Branescu was driving home from a business meeting when he saw the traffic stop.

He said: "I saw the fire brigade helping people come out from the back window of the coach one by one.

"The distress and fear in these peoples' eyes was unbelievable and my thoughts really go out to the families of the people involved in this accident."

Long delays are expected with traffic queues stretching back five miles, the Highways Agency said

Kent Police said all those on the coach were accounted for and a number of people had received treatment at the scene for minor injuries before being conveyed to local hospitals.

The Princess Royal University Hospital in Orpington declared a major incident alert and said it was continuing to treat 23 people who had been on board the coach.

Kent Fire and Rescue Service said firefighters used cutting gear to free two people trapped

A police spokesman said while specialist recovery for the coach had been arranged, it was expected the slip road would remain closed for several hours. Motorists have been advised to expect delays.

Rush-hour traffic stretched back miles after police closed part of the motorway

Coach operator Greens of London has not yet responded to requests for a comment.