A MAJOR tragedy was narrowly averted yesterday when a truck ploughed into a coach carrying children to a Gwent school.

A broken-down Castell coach taking pupils from the Caerphilly area to Ysgol Gyfun Cwm Rhymni in Fleur-de-Lys was involved in a collision at around 8am yesterday on the A469 near Ystrad Mynach by an Amber Services tipper truck.

Of the 38 pupils on board, 20 were taken to various hospitals, including the University of Wales Hospital, in Cardiff, the Prince Charles Hospital, in Merthyr, and the Caerphilly Miners Hospital.

Most suffered minor cuts, bruises or shock, although two pupils had suspected broken bones and another pupil sustained a serious head injury not believed to be life-threatening.

The driver of the HGV had to be cut free from the wreckage by the South Wales Fire Service and was being treated at the university hospital, in Heath.

His injuries were not believed to be life-threatening.

The driver of the coach suffered shock.

The carriageway remained closed until 2.20pm while road collision investigators examined the scene.

Hefin Mathias, head teacher at Ysgol Gyfun Cwm Rhymni, said: "The main impact of the crash has been an emotional one as it was extremely upsetting and traumatic for the pupils involved."

Pupils at the school received counselling from family liaison police officers throughout the day.

Brian Kerslake, transport manager for Castell Coaches, said had the engine not been mounted at the rear of the coach then there would have been many fatalities.

"Only around 10 per cent of my coaches have rear-mounted engines, so thank God one of them was involved in this accident because the engine and the chassis bore the brunt of the impact," said Mr Kerslake.

"Had the coach had a mid-mounted engine the truck may have gone straight through to the middle of it and there would have been fatalities."