A major incident had been declared after a three vehicle pile-up outside a school.

The crash, involving a mini-bus, a bus carrying 30 school children and a Renault Scenic Megan, happened just after 3.30pm today (Wed.).

It is believed that as many as 20 children have been injured, five of them seriously, and numerous ambulances have attended the scene at English Martyrs School, on Catcote Road, in Hartlepool.

The emergency services have declared the crash "a major incident."