AN inquiry is under way after several children were hurt when their school bus crashed.

Department of Transport officials have inspected the vehicles involved in the collision at a notorious accident blackspot.

Initial reports said only one driver was slightly hurt when one school bus ran into the back of another bus at Skeeby Bridge, on the A6108 between Richmond and Scotch Corner, last Wednesday afternoon.

However, it emerged later that about ten children suffered cuts, bruises and whiplash in the collision.

The pupils hurt were all on the second bus taking children from Richmond School to their homes in nearby Melsonby.

It is understood about 30 children were on the bus.

Caroline Hall, 34, of Melsonby, said her 14-year-old daughter Mandy suffered whiplash in the collision.

She said: "Mandy never slept on Wednesday night, she was in that much pain. You expect your kids to be safe going to school."

The 12-year-old daughter of Sylvia Payne, 35, of Melsonby, needed three stitches in her knee after the crash.

"I'm angry that no ambulances were called," she said.

"Children were in shock and there must have been at least ten kids in the doctor's surgery afterwards."

A spokesman for North Yorkshire County Council said the Department of Transport had been notified and an investigation would be conducted.

"The children's injuries are mainly restricted to cuts, bruises and whiplash," he said. "A detailed report will be produced and if there are any deficiencies in the system, we will act upon them."

In 1999, a nurse was killed near the scene of Wednesday's accident when her car hit a queue of traffic waiting to cross the bridge.

Three years ago traffic calming measures were installed through the village and on the bridge.

Previously North Yorkshire county councillor, Michael Heseltine, a former chairman of the authority's highways committee, described the stretch of road from Skeeby to Scotch Corner as one of the most dangerous in the county.

Nobody from Richmond School was available for comment.

It is understood one car was also involved in the accident but was not damaged.