Teenagers among three dead as school bus and car collide

The driver of the car also died in the smash on the A66 near Keswick in Cumbria.

The teenagers – a girl and a boy – were on their way home from Keswick High School. About 30 children were travelling on the 49-seater.

A Cumbria Police spokesman said: "Police can confirm that tragically, two teenage children (one male, one female) who were on the school bus and the adult male driver of the Honda Civic died in the collision."

Thirty-five others were injured in the accident, which happened shortly before 3.47pm.

The bus was on a daily run carrying the children back to their homes in Cockermouth, about 13 miles. It is understood to have overturned after it swerved to avoid another vehicle.

RAF helicopters and air ambulances were called to the scene, along with police, fire crews, doctors and mountain rescue teams.

People living close to the site described hearing a "big bang".

Dorothy Roper, 78, of Hall Garth Farm, said she could see the crash from her home.

"I think a car pulled out of an entrance on to the main road and it must have hit the bus," she said.

"The bus was then knocked on to its side. There was a big bang when it happened."

The A66 was closed while emergency services dealt with the accident.

Serious casualties were being airlifted to Middlesbrough, Newcastle and Preston accident and emergency departments.