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| 23 hurt in UK tourist coach crash | 23 hurt in UK tourist coach crash |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| A British tourist coach has crashed into a house in Belgium leaving 23 people injured, police have said. | A British tourist coach has crashed into a house in Belgium leaving 23 people injured, police have said. |
| Belgian police said four people - three of them UK tourists - were seriously injured in the crash in the coastal city of Middelkerke this morning. | Belgian police said four people - three of them UK tourists - were seriously injured in the crash in the coastal city of Middelkerke this morning. |
| The tourist coach was from Rotherham-based travel company Leger Holidays, police said. | The tourist coach was from Rotherham-based travel company Leger Holidays, police said. |
| The accident happened when the coach swerved to avoid a car and hit a house causing part of a wall to collapse. | The accident happened when the coach swerved to avoid a car and hit a house causing part of a wall to collapse. |
| Belgian police spokesman Roy Van De Gunst said those seriously injured have been taken to hospitals in Bruges, Veurne and Ostend. | Belgian police spokesman Roy Van De Gunst said those seriously injured have been taken to hospitals in Bruges, Veurne and Ostend. |
| 'No escape' | 'No escape' |
| Passengers with less severe injuries have been taken to Ostend. | Passengers with less severe injuries have been taken to Ostend. |
| Those who were not injured have been assisted by the Red Cross in the fire department station in Middelkerke. | Those who were not injured have been assisted by the Red Cross in the fire department station in Middelkerke. |
| Mr Van De Gunst said the coach had hit a house after trying to avoid a collision with a car. | Mr Van De Gunst said the coach had hit a house after trying to avoid a collision with a car. |
| "The car came from a side street and the driver of the coach saw the car and tried to avoid a collision but came into contact with the house because there was no escape for him possible," he said. | "The car came from a side street and the driver of the coach saw the car and tried to avoid a collision but came into contact with the house because there was no escape for him possible," he said. |
| He said the coach was carrying middle-aged people and pensioners. | |
| In a statement Leger Holidays said the crash happened after an overnight stop at 1110 local time (1010 BST). | In a statement Leger Holidays said the crash happened after an overnight stop at 1110 local time (1010 BST). |
| "Emergency services at the scene have reported 18 passengers who are shaken but unhurt and 19 with injuries," the statement said. | |
| The company said the coach, carrying 35 passengers and two crew, was returning to the UK following a nine day tour of Prague, Vienna and Budapest. | The company said the coach, carrying 35 passengers and two crew, was returning to the UK following a nine day tour of Prague, Vienna and Budapest. |
| Friends and relatives should call 01709 786502 for further information and check the Leger Holidays website at www.leger.co.uk. | Friends and relatives should call 01709 786502 for further information and check the Leger Holidays website at www.leger.co.uk. |
| Are you in the area? Send us your experiences using the form below. You can also email photos to: yourpic@bbc.co.uk. | Are you in the area? Send us your experiences using the form below. You can also email photos to: yourpic@bbc.co.uk. |
| Click here for terms and conditions on sending photos and video | Click here for terms and conditions on sending photos and video |
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