A COACH from Stourbridge carrying youngsters heading off for a seaside day trip has overturned on the M5.

Around seven people are believed to have been hurt after a coach carrying 54 people, including the driver, overturned and landed in a ditch at junction 13 of the southbound carriageway at 10am this morning, Tuesday.

But none of the wounded are thought to have suffered life-threatening injuries.

According to a police spokesman several passengers have received minor injuries and the driver has received a back injury but is believed to be conscious.

It is believed the 57-seater coach from Prospect Coaches in Lye had been heading towards Weston-super-Mare for a day trip to the seaside.

The spokesman added: “It appears the coach left the road and went onto the hard shoulder and struck a barrier and turned over.”

The southbound stretch of motorway between junction 13 and 14 has been closed while paramedics and fire crews work at the scene and it is unclear how long it will remain closed.

Currently-trapped traffic is being filtered past the scene however traffic on the M5 before junction 13 is very heavy and building up past Gloucester.

Congestion is also building up to J12 B4008 (Quedgeley/Hardwicke).

A spokesman for the Confederation of Passenger Transport said on behalf of Prospect Coaches: “We’ve just been in contact with them but we haven’t been able to speak to the driver at this stage.

“The coach the left the Action for Children group centre in West Bromwich at 8.30am; it was one of four on the way to Weston for a seaside day trip.”

Two of the coaches left the West Bromwich centre and the other two are believed to have left a Dudley children’s centre in Kate’s Hill.

Transport is being laid on to convey the passengers from the scene.

A spokesman for Stroud District Council said: “Working with our partner agencies, our rest centre and community safety teams went to Waterend Farm in Dursley to help the passengers affected by the coach crash.”

A South West Ambulance Service spokesman said: "There were six casualties, all with minor injuries.

"One child and five adults have been injured.

"The child was taken to Bristol Children's Hospital and the five adults have been taken to Southmead Hospital."

Welfare officers have been providing tea and coffee for the rest of the passengers at Waterend Farm bed and breakfast in Dursley.

The public are asked to bear with Gloucestershire Police who are receiving multiple calls about this incident.

Witnesses or others with information about the incident are asked to postpone calls until later on today. They are asked to call 101 quoting Incident Number 92 of 19 August.

Callers regarding other incidents are asked to be patient when trying to contact the police at this time.