SCHOOLCHILDREN from two East Anglian schools have been involved in a horrific coach crash in Germany that has claimed the lives of two people and left dozens injured.

By Danielle Nuttall

SCHOOLCHILDREN from two East Anglian schools have been involved in a horrific coach crash in Germany that has claimed the lives of two people and left dozens injured.

Children from Thomas Mills High School and Norwich School, in Norfolk, were involved in the crash on the A4 motorway south-west of Cologne.

A spokesman for Cologne Police said between 10 and 20 people were badly injured in the crash.

He said a further 40 people suffered slight injuries after the accident, which happened at about 5.45am German time.

The spokesman said a lorry was also involved in the accident, between Kerpen Buir and Duren.

Francis Thomas, of Suffolk County Council, said one of the coaches was carrying schoolchildren from Thomas Mills High School, in Framlingham, to a skiing holiday in Austria.

He said he could not confirm or deny whether the dead teenager was a pupil at the school.

He said this week was half-term week in Suffolk and many parents had gone away on holiday as well, making it more difficult to contact them.

He added: “We are in touch with British consulate officials at the scene and we making all the necessary arrangements and trying to contact parents as quickly as possible.”

A spokesman for Norfolk County Council said other children involved were from the independent boys' school, Norwich School, in the city.

They had been on a trip on the coach run by Ambassador Travel.

A Foreign Office spokeswoman said: “I can confirm that two Britons have died. There are 29 casualties in local hospitals but we do not believe they are seriously injured.”

It is believed a lorry crashed into one of the coaches, which had stopped on the motorway hard shoulder. The second bus then crashed into the scene.