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23 hurt in UK tourist coach crash Britons injured in Belgian crash
(20 minutes later)
A British tourist coach has crashed into a house in Belgium leaving 23 people injured, police have said. A British tourist coach has crashed into a house in Belgium, leaving four people seriously injured, Belgian police have said.
Belgian police said four people - three of them UK tourists - were seriously injured in the crash in the coastal city of Middelkerke this morning. They reported that three British tourists were among the seriously hurt in the crash near the coastal city of Middelkerke on Sunday morning.
The tourist coach was from Rotherham-based travel company Leger Holidays, police said. The tourist coach was from Rotherham-based Leger Holidays.
The accident happened when the coach swerved to avoid a car and hit a house causing part of a wall to collapse.The accident happened when the coach swerved to avoid a car and hit a house causing part of a wall to collapse.
Belgian police spokesman Roy Van De Gunst said those seriously injured have been taken to hospitals in Bruges, Veurne and Ostend.Belgian police spokesman Roy Van De Gunst said those seriously injured have been taken to hospitals in Bruges, Veurne and Ostend.
'No escape''No escape'
Passengers with less severe injuries have been taken to Ostend.Passengers with less severe injuries have been taken to Ostend.
Those who were not injured have been assisted by the Red Cross in the fire department station in Middelkerke. Those who were not injured have been assisted by the Red Cross in the fire station in Middelkerke.
Mr Van De Gunst said the coach had hit a house after trying to avoid a collision with a car.Mr Van De Gunst said the coach had hit a house after trying to avoid a collision with a car.
"The car came from a side street and the driver of the coach saw the car and tried to avoid a collision but came into contact with the house because there was no escape for him possible," he said."The car came from a side street and the driver of the coach saw the car and tried to avoid a collision but came into contact with the house because there was no escape for him possible," he said.
He said the coach was carrying middle-aged people and pensioners.He said the coach was carrying middle-aged people and pensioners.
In a statement Leger Holidays said the crash happened after an overnight stop at 1110 local time (1010 BST).In a statement Leger Holidays said the crash happened after an overnight stop at 1110 local time (1010 BST).
Leger said 20 uninjured passengers were staying at a fire station before being moved to a hotel, and had been joined by 10 of the injured who had already been treated in hospital.Leger said 20 uninjured passengers were staying at a fire station before being moved to a hotel, and had been joined by 10 of the injured who had already been treated in hospital.
A further seven passengers and crew were still in hospital, the company said.
The company said the coach, carrying 35 passengers and two crew, was returning to the UK following a nine-day tour of Prague, Vienna and Budapest.The company said the coach, carrying 35 passengers and two crew, was returning to the UK following a nine-day tour of Prague, Vienna and Budapest.
Friends and relatives should call 01709 786502 for further information and check the Leger Holidays website at www.leger.co.uk.Friends and relatives should call 01709 786502 for further information and check the Leger Holidays website at www.leger.co.uk.


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