Double-decker bus overturns into field near Stanley

An investigation is under way into how the double-decker bus came off the road and overturned

A double-decker bus carrying about 20 people has overturned and crashed into a field in County Durham.

Four people were taken to hospital as a precaution following the crash, which happened around 12:30 BST, police said.

Go North East, which runs the service, said the driver was "shaken but not injured" and none of those on board had been seriously hurt.

An investigation is under way into the crash, which happened on Lowery Lane, between Stanley and Craghead.

The bus involved was the number 16 service travelling from Durham to Consett, Go North East said.

The North East Ambulance Service said it had a treated a total of 11 patients and sent a series of teams to the scene, including two ambulance crews and three from its Hazardous Area Response Team.

"We were also supported by our colleagues at Durham Constabulary and the County Durham and Darlington Fire and Rescue Service," a spokesperson said.

Damage to the front of the bus was visible and Go North East has described the crash as "an accident"

Gary Edmundson, operations director at Go North East, said the firm was "supporting all those involved" and working with police to "try and understand what happened".

"This is a one-off accident and we're trying to understand what happened to make sure we can learn from it and see if there's anything we can do to make sure we don't have similar incidents," he said.

Go North East's business director Ben Maxfield added its management team arrived "quickly" at the scene to support the emergency services.

Durham Police said the road between the Punch Bowl and Black House crossroads would remain closed for "some time".

The bus is expected to be recovered from the scene later.