Passengers trapped as coach crashes carrying band leaving a Bristol gig

Two people were trapped after a coach crashed this morning carrying an American band making their way out of Bristol after a gig.

The coach - which is reported to have been carrying the band members of metal band Baroness - crashed near the viaduct at the bottom of Brassknocker Hill near Bath this morning.

Baroness played at The Fleece in Bristol last night, and were due to play in Southampton tonight. The BBC have reported this afternoon that band members were in the tour bus when it crashed.

Here is a video of the band in action:

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First reports said at least two people were trapped in the wreckage, including the driver, and two were seriously injured after the coach plunged 30 feet off the road.

Nine people were on the single-deck coach at the time and two were cut free by fire crews.

They were treated at the scene by medical staff. The other seven people on board also received medical attention.

An eye witness reported that the coach was lying on its side after crashing near the viaduct at Limpley Stoke.

The coach failed to stop at the bottom of Brassknocker Hill and went through the traffic lights and across the A36 before plunging 30ft down an embankment and coming to rest near a canal.

Emergency crews raced to the scene after being alerted at 11.28am.

Dereck Saddler, employee at The Greenfuel Co, Monkton Combe Garage, on Warminster Road: said: "A coach has come down Brassknocker Hill, turned right, lost control, come off the road and gone over the side into the basin.

"You can't see where it is now, you can't see if it has gone into the water. They told us before that there have been no fatalities but someone is trapped."

Ten fire crews, a number of ambulances, paramedics and members of the critical care team from the Great Western Air Ambulance responded to the emergency.

The weather at the time of the crash was too severe for their aircraft to fly.

The injured were taken to Bath's Royal United Hospital and Frenchay Hospital in Bristol.

A spokesman for Avon Fire and Rescue said: "It would appear the coach has come off the road and gone down a ravine 30 feet."

Roads around the scene remain closed and drivers have been asked to avoid the area.

The A36 was closed from the Beckington roundabout. Church Lane at its junction with Midford Road was also shut. The A36 Beckford Gardens was closed and there was no acces up from Hinton Charterhouse.

It is hoped the roads could reopen later this afternoon.