Woman hurt in Ascot coach crash

Royal Ascot has been hit by rain showers this year

A Royal Ascot racegoer was seriously injured after the coach taking her home overturned, Thames Valley Police said.

The woman, in her late 20s, was airlifted to hospital after suffering serious head injuries. A 30-year-old woman and a man, 31, were also hurt.

The private coach - carrying about 45 passengers from Palmers Green, north London - crashed in Ascot, Berkshire, after it had left the racecourse.

The coach driver was arrested on suspicion of dangerous driving.

The man, who is in his 50s, was later released on police bail until 1 September.

Broken bones

The accident happened at about 1945 BST in Sunninghill Road, which was closed causing traffic problems for other racegoers returning home.

A South Central ambulance service spokeswoman said the woman in her 20s was airlifted to the JR2 hospital in Oxford.

Her injuries were not believed to be life-threatening, but she remained in the hospital's neurological unit for observation, the spokeswoman added.

She said two other people had been taken to Wexham Park Hospital, in Slough, with "cuts, bruises and minor broken bones".

"Three other people with cuts and bruises refused to be taken to hospital and there were 40 more who were not injured," she added.