THE next Archbishop of Canterbury has spoken of his relief that a group of choristers from his cathedral escaped serious injuries in a coach crash.

Newport's St Woolos choir are continuing their tour of Belgium despite being involved in the frightening crash.

Fifteen members of the group were rushed to hospital after the coach collided with a tram in Blankenberg on Sunday.

Five children and the driver were kept in hospital overnight and released yesterday after being covered in glass and shaken up in the collision.

Archbishop of Wales, Dr Rowan Williams, who is currently at St Woolos Cathedral until he takes up residence at Lambeth Palace, said: "I was contacted on Sunday night and told of what had happened. My thoughts and prayers were with all those involved in the collision.

"But we have much to be thankful for, that it was not more serious."

Christopher Barton, organist at St Woolos Cathedral said: "The boys' injuries were not major, just cuts and bruises."

He spoke from Ghent, where the choir of 40 boys skipped a visit to a nearby theme park yesterday and stayed in the youth hostel there.

They were due to continue their visit, giving concerts in Bruges and Ghent today and tomorrow before returning home on Thursday.

* Pictured: The Gwent coach and the tram after the collision