FOUR men were taken to hospital, two in a potentially serious condition, after a collision between a lorry and a single decker bus in south Shropshire.

The crash happened at the junction of the A49 and the B5477 at Little Stretton.

Four ambulances and a paramedic officer were sent to the scene after the crash at just after 6.30pm last night.

An off-duty West Midlands Ambulance Service paramedic and a Welsh Ambulance Service paramedic who were driving by also stopped to assist.

Murray MacGregor, for West Midlands Ambulance Service, said: “The HGV collided with the mid-point of the driver’s side of the bus causing considerable damage. The bus was swung round almost 90 degrees and the two vehicles finished against each other

“A passenger who was fortunately sitting just in front of the impact point suffered nasty facial injuries. The man, who was estimated to be in his 30s, was immobilised before being taken to Royal Shrewsbury Hospital.

“Initial reports suggested an 18-year-old man at the rear of the coach had been ejected and had been unconscious for a period. When ambulance crews arrived he was out of the bus but fully conscious.

"He was suffering from a head abrasion, aches and pains. As a precaution he was also immobilised and taken to the same hospital.

“The bus driver, a man in his 30s, was suffering from possible fractured ribs. He was also taken to the Royal Shrewsbury Hospital for further assessment and treatment.

“The lorry driver, who was in his 40s, suffered a lower right leg injury but had managed to get out of his vehicle. After assessment at the scene, he went to the same hospital as the other three.

“When one considers the damage and where people were sitting, this could easily have been a very much more serious incident.”