DOZENS of Black Country schoolchildren and their teachers escaped a coach that had caught fire as it travelled on a busy motorway.

The coach burst into flames while it was travelling on the M6 northbound at junction 3a at about 3.40pm on Monday afternoon (May 23).

The children were from Brandhall Primary School in Oldbury.

Two ambulances, a paramedic area support officer and a senior paramedic officer were sent to the scene.

A West Midlands Ambulance Service spokesman said: “On arrival crews were greeted by the sight of a double decker bus that had been reduced to smouldering remains.

“Thankfully the 59 children and 7 staff on board, who come from the Black Country, were safely sitting on a second coach that had stopped to offer assistance.

“The Trust would like to pay tribute to the Eavesway Travel of Wigan coach driver who spotted the issue, stopped at the side of the motorway and helped evacuate the children.

“He then kept them and their teachers safe on his coach while firefighters dealt with the blaze.

“He then took them to the Motorcycle Museum where they were meeting up with a replacement coach to take them on their way.

“In total, 13 children and the coach driver were assessed for smoke inhalation.

“Four 10 year old girls were taken by ambulance to Birmingham Children’s Hospital for further assessment, though their conditions are not thought to be serious.

“This could clearly have been a much more serious incident but for the quick actions of the coach drivers, teachers and children.”