M53 crash today LIVE: Two hospitals declare Major Incidents as police prepare to hold press conference after bus crash leaves up to 50 injured

Emergency services were called on Friday after reports of an overturned coach on the northbound M53 near to junction 5 at Hooton, Cheshire.

Labour MP Dame Angela Eagle, who represents Wallasey, said her thoughts were with those impacted.

‘I’m sure over the coming days we will find out what actually has happened with this crash and we will find out more information.

‘My thoughts are with all of those who have pupils at both schools and their families and also with the emergency services who have been having to respond to this incident as it has unfolded today,’ she told BBC Radio 4’s World At One programme.

A spokesperson for Alder Hey Children’s Hospital said: ‘Following an incident on the M53, we have called a major incident. Our Emergency Department is currently extremely busy and we would also ask parents to only bring their children to the Department if it is urgent.’

A major incident has also been declared at Arrowe Park Hospital, Wirral.

A spokesperson for Wirral University teaching hospital said: ‘We have clear plans in place to deal with these types of emergency situations and our services are ready to receive any casualties. The Trust has declared a Major Incident and the Major Incident Team has been stood up to manage the situation.’

National Highways North West said: ‘The incident occurred shortly after 8am this morning.

‘All emergency services are on scene along with North West Air Ambulance Services.

‘National Highways Traffic Officers are on scene providing assistance with traffic management.’

We can confirm that emergency services are on the M53 in Hooton following a collision involving a bus on the motorway.

Just after 8am we received a report that a bus had struck a reservation on Junction 5 of the M53.

Junctions 3-5 of the M53 are closed in both directions. Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service is currently ensuring the safe removal of passengers and the driver, and North West Ambulance Service are at the scene attending to anyone requiring treatment.

Motorists are advised to avoid the area and find alternative routes, and we advise people to remain patient while the incident is ongoing.

Enquiries are ongoing and updates will be issued as soon as possible. 

Please note this incident is ongoing and we are urging people to refrain from speculating or publishing any sensitive information that could be distressing online or via social media platforms. 

Anyone who witnessed the incident or has dashcam footage or CCTV is asked to contact Merseyside Police social media desk via Twitter @MerPolCC quoting 23000944471.

You can also call 101 or contact the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously, on 0800 555 111 or via their online form at: https://crimestoppers-uk.org/give-information/give-information-online/

The ambulance service said they rushed to the scene after reports of a road traffic collision between a car and a coach.

A witness who tweeted a photo showing a bus lying on its side wrote: ‘Crash on the M53 towards Liverpool just after J5. Coach on the side with school kids escaping for the back window. Hope all the kids got out ok.’

Another said: ‘Drove past that was awful to see all the kids standing on the hard shoulder.’

‘Praying for them kids on the M53,’ another added.

The crash involves children from Calday Grange Grammar School and West Kirby Grammar School for girls, according to the local councillor for Upton By Chester, Sherin Akhtar.

Councillor Akhtar posted a statement on Facebook which reads: ‘I can confirm and am aware of an accident on the M53 this morning going towards the Wirral/ Birkenhead.

‘It involves a Carvers coach (W3) travelling to Calday Grange Grammar School and West Kirby Grammar school for girls.

‘Whilst this is a live situation, I would like to assure residents that I am working on their behalf and offer support and will endeavour to update, as soon as possible.

‘I am aware that children are being taken to Arrowe Park as precautionary.’

Witnesses say children were escaping from the back window and are standing on the hard shoulder after the bus crashed with a car and struck a reservation just after 8am.

Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service confirmed they arrived at the scene to find an overturned bus with a number of casualties.

Crews are currently working to safely remove passengers, including the driver, as ambulance crews are attending to anyone needing treatment at the scene.

A ‘major incident’ has been declared by the North West Ambulance Service after a horror school bus crash this morning.

A bus overturned on the M53 at Hooton, Cheshire, leaving a ‘number of casualties’.

One female patient has been taken to hospital with major trauma-related injuries as 50 others are being assessed by ambulance crews at the scene