Three people including two children have been seriously injured after a crash involving a school bus and a local passenger bus.

Fire crews, police and the ambulance service were working at the scene of the crash on the B181, Epping Road, just outside Epping, from 4.27pm on Wednesday.

A spokesman from Essex County Fire and Rescue Service said: “Rescue operations continue to free the second casualty. Firefighters report around 20 walking wounded who are being checked over at nearby St Margarets Hospital”.

A teenage girl, on the school bus, and the male driver of the other bus have been released by firecrews after being trapped in the vehicles.

The bus driver was taken to Addenbrookes Hospital by air ambulance for treatment to injuries which are believed to be life-changing.

The teenage girl was taken to Princess Alexandra Hospital (PAH) in Harlow, for treatment to serious injuries.

Another pupil has also been taken to PAH after sustaining serious injuries.

There have been no other reports of serious injuries but police are appealing for any passengers who left the local passenger bus before police arrived to contact the Serious Collision Investigation Unit on 101.

They would also like to hear from any witnesses to the collision.

The collision happened on the B181, near the junction with Coopersale Common Road, at about 4.27pm.

Both buses had been heading towards Epping when the collision occurred near a bus stop, although the school bus was thought to have been stationary.

Traffic was diverted through Thornwood and drivers are urged to avoid the Epping, Thornwood and North Weald areas as Epping Road is likely to remain closed for several hours while a police investigation is carried out.