AN investigation has been launched after several children were hurt when their school bus crashed at a notorious accident blackspot.

Department for Transport officials yesterday inspected the vehicles involved in the accident.

Initial reports said that only the driver was slightly hurt when a school bus ran into the rear of another at Skeeby Bridge, on the A6108 between Richmond and Scotch Corner, North Yorkshire, on Wednesday afternoon.

But it emerged yesterday that ten children suffered cuts, bruises and whiplash in the accident.

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

It is believed about 30 children were on the bus.

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

She said: "Mandy did not sleep 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.

She said: "I am angry that no ambulances were called.

"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 for Transport had been notified and that an investigation would be carried out.

He said: "The children's injuries are mainly restricted to cuts, bruises and whiplash.

"A detailed report will be produced and if there are any deficiencies in the system, we will act upon them."

In 1999, a nurse died 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 introduced in the village and on the bridge.

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

No one from Richmond School was available for comment.