Police say they have spoken to the driver of a bus after 11 children were injured when its roof was ripped off after it hit a railway bridge.

The double-decker bus was carrying 73 students and seven staff from St John’s School in Epping when the driver attempted to drive under a 13ft bridge in Chertsey Lane, Staines..

The bus was travelling to Thorpe Park for an end-of-term trip for the 11 to 16-year-olds when the roof was completely torn off.

Windows were smashed along the length of the upper deck, showering pupils in glass, and 11 children were taken to hospital.

One student sustained neck injuries and eight others were in shock after the crash, which left others with cuts and bruises.

Uninjured pupils were taken on to Thorpe Park, where they waited for a replacement bus or their parents to pick them up.

St John’s School headteacher George Yerosimou said he was thankful the crash had not been worse.

He said: “I am just really grateful - looking at the nature of the accident - that nothing more serious happened because people on the scene were amazed that people came out without any more serious injuries.

“I am very grateful to staff and emergency services that managed a very difficult situation.”

He added that staff would be available over the Easter holiday for pupils or parents to phone if they had been badly affected by the crash.

A statement from St John’s said: “The safety and wellbeing of our students is of utmost concern to us and we will be ensuring they have support and guidance alongside any further medical attention they need.”

Police spoke to the driver of the bus after the crash, and he will be interviewed by bus operator Galleon Travel when he returns to the company offices in Roydon.

A spokesman for the Confederation of Passenger Transport UK said: “He is a relatively experienced driver who has spoken with police, and when he has returned to Galleon Travel he will be interviewed by the company, but at the moment he is free to go.

“He may be interviewed at a later date.”