POLICE and education officials are investigating an accident in which pupils were injured while travelling on a school bus yesterday morning.

At least three children were treated at hospital after the incident shortly before 9am at Staindrop Comprehensive School, near Barnard Castle, County Durham.

The driver involved has been suspended pending an internal investigation by bus company Go North-East.

A Durham County Council spokeswoman said she was aware of one pupil requiring medical treatment after the accident. The girl is believed to have been examined for a suspected broken arm.

"Both ourselves and the bus company are carrying out inquiries into the incident today in co-operation with the school," said the spokeswoman.

Parent Leslie Daniel, 40, said he took his 15-year-old son and 12-year-old daughter to Bishop Auckland General Hospital yesterday morning.

He claimed five other children who had been on the bus were also at the hospital.

"My son had a suspected cracked rib but he's just getting on with it and taking painkillers," he said. "But my little girl is laid there and she's out of it.

"I think she's more shocked than anything else. She had blood in her urine and suspected bruised kidneys. I have to take her back to hospital in the morning."

Mr Daniel said his children told him the bus stopped suddenly outside the school gates.

A Durham Police spokeswoman said the accident was being investigated, including an allegation by pupils that the driver was using a mobile phone.

She asked anyone who saw the accident to call Barnard Castle police, on (01833) 762011.

Martin Harris, Go North-East's commercial director, said: "The school bus from Evenwood to Staindrop School was involved in an accident this morning as it entered the school grounds.

"Go North-East operates this school bus each day and has begun an immediate investigation.

"We are very concerned about the well-being of the children travelling on the bus who were involved and are treating the incident as a very serious matter.

"We are in discussion with the school and the education authority about the incident. We have notified the Vehicle Inspectorate.

"While we are carrying out our own internal investigation, we will of course be co-operating fully with any investigation carried out by the external agencies.

"The driver involved is an experienced driver. He has been with the company since September 2003. He has been relieved from his duties pending the outcome of the investigation.

"When the investigations into the incident are complete, Go North-East's local and senior management, senior staff from the school and the education authority, will be meeting to review procedures in relation to the Staindrop School buses to identify any and all opportunities for improvement."

The school's headteacher, Brian Kinnair, was unavailable for comment.