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| Briton dies in school bus crash | |
| (40 minutes later) | |
| A British man died when a coach carrying UK schoolchildren crashed in France, the Foreign Office has said. | A British man died when a coach carrying UK schoolchildren crashed in France, the Foreign Office has said. |
| Pupils from Alvechurch School in Worcestershire were among the 48 passengers on the coach, which crashed near Chalons-en-Champagne. | |
| Local sources said the fatality was a 61-year-old man. Five people have been seriously injured. | |
| The UK href="http://www.fco.gov.uk/en/news/latest-news/?view=News&id=732058882" >Foreign Office said it was urgently investigating the incident and was providing consular assistance. | |
| In a href="http://www.interski.co.uk/information/" >statement on its website travel company Interski said there were 13 adults from the school party and 29 pupils on the coach, plus six ski instructors and two drivers. | |
| It says it has been informed of five serious injuries and 22 minor injuries, all of whom are being treated in hospital. | It says it has been informed of five serious injuries and 22 minor injuries, all of whom are being treated in hospital. |
| Those who are uninjured are being cared for at a sports complex in the region. They are receiving attention from the French Red Cross who are also providing psychological support. | Those who are uninjured are being cared for at a sports complex in the region. They are receiving attention from the French Red Cross who are also providing psychological support. |
| 'Veered into ditch' | |
| Interski said the coach, which was returning to the UK from the Aosta Valley, Italy, left the motorway and came to rest at the bottom of an embankment. | |
| It happened at about 02:00 GMT (03:00 local time) on the A26 motorway, near Chalone-en-Champagne in the Champagne-Ardenne region of France, on the road between Troyes and the port of Calais. | It happened at about 02:00 GMT (03:00 local time) on the A26 motorway, near Chalone-en-Champagne in the Champagne-Ardenne region of France, on the road between Troyes and the port of Calais. |
| The vehicle involved was owned by Solus Coaches, which is based in Tamworth, Staffordshire. | |
| The BBC's Hugh Schofield in Paris said: "It seems the coach was the only vehicle involved. It veered into the ditch at the side of the road and it was a very serious accident." | |
| A spokeswoman for Alvechurch School said: "There is no further information at this stage. We are liaising with the police and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office." | |
| People in the UK who are worried about relatives and friends should call the Foreign Office's helpline on 0207 008 1500. | People in the UK who are worried about relatives and friends should call the Foreign Office's helpline on 0207 008 1500. |
| Are you in the area? Have you been affected by the coach crash? You can get in touch using the form below: | Are you in the area? Have you been affected by the coach crash? You can get in touch using the form below: |