TWO children are critically ill in hospital tonight after a minibus swerved off the road and into youngsters leaving school.
The accident happenedoutside the English Martyrs School, in Hartlepool, at about 3.30pm.
Eye-witnesses have told The Northern Echo that the minibus had to swerve when a child ran out in front of it.
The bus clipped a Renault Scenic car, mounted the footpath and ploughed into a wire fence with its nose embedded into a tree.
Around 20 children were on the bus and many more were on the footpath.
The most seriously injured are believed to have been hit by the bus as they walked home.
An air ambulance and the police helicopter flew the most seriously injured to Middlesbrough's James Cook Hospital.
Police said two children were critically ill last night. At least one is believed to have abdominal and chest injuries.
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