A woman driver died and 12 people including children and a pregnant woman were injured in a crash between a car and a bus in the Black Country.

The road was closed for four hours while emergency crews dealt with the wreckage and carried out inquiries into the cause of the crash.

Police are investigating reports that the woman who died had been overtaking when her mini clipped the back of a Land Rover and smashed into the 428 single decker bus travelling from Wednesbury to West Bromwich bus station.

Among the bus passengers were children from Wodensborough Community Technology College, in Hydes Road, Wednesbury, who said they heard a huge bang and the sound of metal crumpling when the crash happened at around 3.50pm yesterday.

Some of the children were taken to hospital with minor injuries and Church Lane was sealed between Byron Street and Ridgacre Road while police carried out inquiries.

Five ambulances and an incident support officer attended the scene with firefighters from West Bromwich.

West Midlands Police spokesman Billy Corrigan said: “Police responded to a serious road traffic collision between a bus and a car in West Bromwich after a number of calls from members of the public.”

There were children travelling on a school bus, some of whom received minor injuries. The family of the victim are being informed.”