EIGHT people have been taken to hospital after a bus was in collision with a lorry.

No-one had life threatening injuries hurt although the male driver of the single-decker Arriva bus had to be cut out of the vehicle by firefighters.

The Great North Air Ambulance was called to the scene at the Church Lane junction of the A66 near Grangetown, Middlesbrough at about 10.18am. MON, OCTOBER 29.

A doctor from the air ambulance checked over all six passengers on the bus and both drivers and none had serious injuries.

Everyone involved was an adult and all were taken by road to James Cook University Hospital in Middlesbrough with neck, chest and head problems.

The bus was badly damaged at the front, on the driver’s side. The lorry was not carrying a trailer and it was not a head-on crash.

Peter Jones, station officer at Grangetown Fire Station, explained hydraulic equipment was used to help the driver of the bus who was in his late 20s or early 30s.

Nick Knox, area managing director for Arriva North East, said: “We can confirm there has been an incident this morning involving a lorry and an Arriva bus at the crossroads at South Tees Business Park.

The emergency services attended the scene along with Arriva representatives. Our bus driver and 6 passengers have been taken to hospital.”

There were traffic problems on the A66 caused by the accident.