SCHOOL children were evacuated from a double-decker coach when its engine caught fire near Maidstone.

The coach, with between 20 and 30 children on board, was travelling along the A249 Detling Hill, near the county showground, at around 8.30pm on Friday when it developed the problem.

All the children left the coach and two crews from Kent Fire and Rescue Service, one from Maidstone and one from Sittingbourne, arrived to put out the fire.

No-one was hurt in the incident, and firefighters left the scene at 9pm.

It is believed the coach company called another vehicle to pick up the children.

Firefighter Simon Hamm, of Maidstone Fire Station, said: "It was dealt with fairly quickly, but it could have been nasty. It was quite heavily smoke-logged on the upper deck."