TWO schoolgirls had a lucky escape when a runaway car careered down a hill, smashing into the minibus which had just dropped them off in their village.

The girls, aged 12 and 15, had just been dropped off in Brynithel after school at Aberti-llery Comprehensive when a silver car's handbrake apparently failed and it ploughed 50 yards down a steep hill into the side of the C & R of Blaina minibus.

One of the girls, Natalie Tibbs, 12, was knocked into a wall, hitting her head. The other, Claire Dobbs, 15, was treated for shock.

A female escort on the minibus also suffered a shoulder injury. If the car had moved the minibus further on to the pavement, the girls could have been crushed against the wall and a public telephone.

Claire said: "I had just got off the minibus and was talking to my friend Natalie when I saw the car coming down the hill. I thought it was going to stop at the junction but it didn't and just kept on going. It was absolutely terrifying.

"It rammed into the bus and knocked Natalie against the wall. I was more shocked than anything and I ran to get Natalie's mother."

The girls were taken to Abergavenny's Nevill Hall Hospital by ambulance following the incident at 3.15pm on the junction of the Mount Pleasant Estate and Brynithel Road.

Natalie had a precautionary x-ray of her skull after sustaining a knock on her head and Claire was treated for shock. Both were released later yesterday evening.

The incident comes just a week after 12-year-old Jasmine Allen, of Hafodyrynys, died when the minibus she was travelling to school in overturned after colliding with a car.

Claire's father, Ken Dobbs, who lives on the Mount Pleasant Estate, said: "When I heard my daughter was involved in a minibus accident, it brought back memories of what happened in Hafodyrynys.

"I was driving through Llanhilleth when I got the call and I couldn't get to the scene quick enough. I was frantic."

Natalie's mother, Sally Thomas of Brynhyfryd, Brynithel, said: "I can't describe what was going through my mind when I first heard about the accident.

"I'm just relieved that she is OK apart from the three bumps she has on her head. She is more shook up than anything. It could have been much, much worse."

Gwent police have now launched an investigation into the accident. Anyone with information is urged to call the Collision Investigation Unit on 01633 643091.