TWENTY people have been hurt - most of them thought to be school children - in a three vehicle pile up, involving a school bus.

Two seriously injured children were airlifted to hospital from the scene of today's smash outside the English Martyrs Roman Catholic Comprehensive School and Sixth Form College, on Catcote Road, Hartlepool.

The Great North Air Ambulance ferried the youngsters to hospital at Stockton.

A fleet of road ambulances took a further three people suffering head and leg injuries and 15 "walking wounded'' to the same hospital, the University Hospital of North Tees, for treatment.

Cleveland Police closed off all roads in the area to enable paramedics, ambulance technicians and firemen to carry out rescue work, unobstructed.

Twenty fire fighters were sent to the scene on board three fire engines and two special emergency tenders.

A spokeswoman for Cleveland Fire Brigade said: "We received a call for assistance at 15:39 from the police. The ambulance, police and ourselves are all involved.

"We are there making the vehicles safe and assisting at the scene.'' Cleveland Police set up an information line for witnesses and concerned parents to ring on (01642) 300200.

A spokeswoman for Cleveland Police said: "A three vehicle collision has occurred outside English Martyrs School on Catcote Road, Hartlepool. The incident happened just after 3:30pm this afternoon. One of the vehicles involved is a mini bus, and another is a bus believed to be carrying around 30 children. The third vehicle is a Renault Megane Scenic.

"A major incident has been called by the emergency services.'' A nearby rugby club football field was pressed into service as an emergency landing ground for the Great North Air Ambulance and a police helicopter.