SCHOOL children had a narrow escape from serious injury when a bus in which they were travelling was in collision with car and crashed into the front garden of a house.

About 20 children from Oakwood Park Grammar and St Simon Stock Schools, in Maidstone, were on board the Arriva bus when it collided with a car in St Leonards Street, West Malling, shortly before 8am on Monday.

The students were given shelter by the owner of the house, while they waited for alternative transport to arrive.

Firefighters used cutting equipment to free the car driver who was taken to Maidstone Hospital with minor injuries. The driver of the bus was unhurt.

Garden fencing and an electricity meter were destroyed in the incident leaving some residents without power.

A Kent Police spokesman said: "It is believed at this stage that the bus was taking evasive action to avoid the car, which was alleged to be travelling in the wrong lane, towards the bus."

A spokesman for Arriva confirmed that the bus involved was the company’s number 75 service which was travelling from Kings Hill to Maidstone. She said: “We will be supporting the police whilst they carry out their investigation”.

The road was still closed at 11.20am while the two vehicles were recovered.