Dozens of Black Country youngsters escape from M6 coach inferno
[gallery] Dozens of Black Country schoolchildren escaped this coach inferno on the M6.
Four girls aged 10 were taken to hospital after the blaze, which triggered major delays on the motorway.
It happened on the M6 northbound at Junction 3a in Warwickshire at around 3.40pm yesterday.
The driver of a second coach managed to pull over and help evacuate the children, keeping them safe while firefighters tackled the blaze.
Thirteen children and the driver were treated at the scene for smoke inhalation, while the four 10-year-olds were taken to Birmingham Children's Hospital. Their condition was not thought to be serious.
Their conditions were not thought to be serious.
West Midlands Ambulance Service spokesman Murray MacGregor 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.
"This could clearly have been a much more serious incident but for the quick actions of the coach drivers, teachers and children."
