Eleven Bristol children were hurt when a bus taking them back to school from a sports session had to make an emergency stop.

The injured youngsters were among 50 Year Seven pupils from Bristol Cathedral Choir School on a double-decker bus which was returning to the school from its playing fields at Failand shortly before 4pm yesterday when the driver had to brake suddenly to avoid a car near Long Ashton.

After the incident the bus driver dialled 999 and Great Western Ambulance Service sent a paramedic to assess the casualties.

Finding that none of the children were seriously injured, paramedic Chris Hewett opted to keep them on the bus rather than try to treat them by the roadside.

The bus went back to the school where a special treatment area was set up in a classroom ready to treat the youngsters on arrival.

Mr Hewett said: "There were 11 children with a variety of minor injuries.

"Rather than treat them by a busy road, we made the decision for the bus to return to the school, where I was joined by a doctor and critical care paramedic from the Great Western Air Ambulance.

"By the time we arrived, the school had set up a casualty clearing station – in effect a classroom with screened-off areas for us to triage and treat the children. There were black eyes, some bangs to the head, a wrist injury, shoulder injury and a couple of nose bleeds.

"One child was taken to Bristol Children's Hospital by their parents. The rest were discharged and went home with medical advice should their condition change."