Children escape crash uninjured

A group of school children had a lucky escape when their coach was involved in an accident with a van travelling in the opposite direction.

The accident happened on a bend near Hazel End village - between Bishop's Stortford and Stansted Mountfitchet - on Wednesday afternoon.

None of the 15 children on the coach was injured; the coach driver and the two men in the van were also unhurt.

An Essex ambulance service spokesman said it could have been very serious.

Operations manager, Bob Mearns, said: "When I arrived on scene it was clear that there were no serious injuries and I cancelled all the ambulances.

"None of the 15 children on board was hurt. The coach driver and the two men in the van were also unhurt.

"Given this a small road out in the countryside, this could have been very serious had the vehicles left the road. It is very fortunate that no-one was hurt."