A school coach carrying 29 children and four teachers has crashed into a ditch by the A36 motorway near Southampton, Hampshire. The incident occurred while the coach was travelling from Bristol. Fortunately, all the secondary school children were unharmed, although one teacher sustained a leg injury and the driver also reported minor injuries.

Emergency services, including police, ambulances, and the fire service, quickly arrived at the scene. The coach was the only vehicle involved in the incident. A spokesperson for Hampshire Constabulary stated, "We are currently dealing with a single vehicle collision on the A36 between the Ower roundabout and junction 2 of the M27."

The spokesperson confirmed that the coach left the southbound carriageway and ended up in a ditch. They added, "We understand that there were 33 passengers on board, 29 schoolchildren who were uninjured and four teachers, one of whom had a minor leg injury treated at the scene."

The school has been informed, and all parents have been contacted regarding the situation. The police indicated that the A36 would remain closed for several hours while recovery operations were underway. They advised motorists to avoid the area if possible, expressing gratitude for the public's patience during this time.

The closure of the southbound A36, which began in the early hours of the morning, has caused significant delays during rush hour. National Highways has estimated that the road is expected to reopen between 2:15 and 2:30pm this afternoon.