Nine French people, seven children amongst them, were hurt in a collision between a bus and heavy goods vehicle on the A-4 highway near Legnica, southwest Poland.

The driver of the bus, which was carrying children between the ages 11-17 years old, ran into the back of the HGV as it was braking.

All of the injured passengers were taken to the regional hospital in Legnica. One 17-year-old girl is severely hurt. The rest have only sustained minor injuries, one broken arm amongst them.

The coach was taking high school children from Strasbourg, France to Krakow, southern Poland.

The A-4 highway is still blocked from the border to Wroclaw. The accident took place eight kilometers from Legnica and drivers are being re-routed on local routes as the road is cleared.

The bus has been completely destroyed and another bus will have to be hired to transport the French children who are, for now, at a youth hostel in Legnica. (mmj)