A school minibus carrying youngsters to a primary school crashed into a ditch this morning leaving four children injured.

James Mortlock

A MINIBUS carrying youngsters to school crashed into a ditch this morning leaving four children injured.

The minibus was on its way to All Saints Primary School in Lawshall, near Bury St Edmunds, when it crashed in the village's Bury Road, at 8.50am.

Four children were taken by ambulance to West Suffolk Hospital, in Bury St Edmunds - a nine-year-old boy was believed to have suffered a broken toe, a five-year-old boy and a nine-year-old girl who were thought to have been knocked out and a seven year-old girl with was suffering abdominal pains.

A police investigation is under way.

A hospital spokesman said three of the children had been allowed home but one was being kept in for observation. The driver of the coach, who was also taken to the hospital, was not hurt but suffered shock.

The minibus is owned by Turners of Great Barton. A spokesman for the family-run firm said they were horrified when the report came in that one of their vehicles had been involved in an accident.

He said although no definitive cause of the accident had yet been established, ice on the road may well have been a factor.

“The road was pretty horrendous,” he said. “The road had not been gritted and I know our vehicle slipped on the ice.

“The accident involved our school bus users and they are really young children as well - it was pretty horrific.”

A Suffolk County Council spokeswoman said: “There were eight children on board - the driver and the children are all fine.

“They have all been taken to hospital for a routine check - there were no serious injuries and all of the parents have been informed.”

She said the vehicle, which she described as a taxi bus, had slid off the road into a tree.

The minibus was taken away by police at 1.05pm.