About 20 Cumbrian schoolchildren were caught up in a terrifying bus crash.

The A595, one of the county's busiest roads, was shut for several hours on Wednesday, after the collision involving a bus and a car.

A 57-seater coach, carrying school pupils, and a Hyundai car were involved in the collision near Westlakes Science Park, at about 3.40pm.

The car driver, a 57-year-old woman, was uninjured, but her passenger had to be cut free from the vehicle by firefighters.

The man, 47, was taken by ambulance to Whitehaven's West Cumberland Hospital, with a head injury and suffering from both spine and leg pain.

A police spokeswoman told the News & Star it was believed 20 schoolchildren were on the coach at the time of the collision.

None of them were injured, but were they were understandably shocked. It is not known which school the pupils were from.

The coach, owned by Frizington firm JB Pickthall Coaches, was driven by a 29-year-old man.

Barry Pickthall, owner of the company, said: "The driver and passengers on the bus were uninjured."

He added that the coach was "at the end of its run, so it wouldn't have had many passengers at all", but could not confirm the exact number.

Following the incident, the road was closed for about three hours and a diversion route was put in place.

Three ambulances, one rapid response car, one doctor and a specialist paramedic were called out.

The drivers and passengers of the car and coach were checked at the scene by medics.

Cumbria Police and three fire engines also attended the incident.