Six British pupils in hospital after coach smashes

Youngsters from two British schools are recovering in hospital after their ski holiday coaches crashed in treacherous weather conditions in Austria.

Six pupils from London and the Wirral are in hospital after the two separate crashes on the same stretch of the Tauern autobahn near St Johann, near Salzburg.

All the parents of the youngsters involved have been informed and none of the injuries are considered serious, a Foreign Office spokeswoman said.

The two school parties were both returning from half-term skiing holidays when the smashes happened.

Four youngsters from Orleans Park Secondary School in Twickenham, Middlesex, have been kept in hospital, including a female pupil suffering from spinal bruising who may have to be flown home.

Two pupils from Plessington Catholic High Technology College in Bebington, on the Wirral, are in hospital, including a male pupil with a pubic fracture, British Embassy officials said.

Nine children and one teacher were initially taken to hospital after the crash involving Plessington College pupils, which happened as the group was returning from a skiing trip in Ravscletto, Italy, a spokeswoman for Wirral Borough Council said.

Most of the injured children were in Year 10, and aged 14 and 15. The youngest was a girl from Year 8 and the boy with the pelvic injury was in Year 10. Others were suffering from cuts, bruises and shock. At least two were suffering from broken bones, the spokeswoman said.

Chairman of the school governors Norman Kelly said: "This is every parent's and school's nightmare and we are thankful that none of those involved has life-threatening injuries."

The chairman of the governors of Orleans Park School has confirmed the children were on a school skiing trip in Austria when the crash occurred. Mrs Barbara Gilgallon was unwilling to disclose any details of the accident but says she believes there were no serious injuries.

She says the group of children, aged between 11 and 16, would be returning to England as soon as possible.