Witnesses say it was a miracle no one was killed after a car fleeing police smashed into vehicles near a primary school as parents picked up their children.

The smash, which involved two cars and an Age UK minibus carrying elderly passengers, happened outside Woodlands Primary School in Woodlands Road, Gillingham.

Police say it involved a vehicle which made off when officers tried to pull it over in Upper Luton Road in Chatham just after 3pm.

They lost track of the vehicle, and soon afterwards, received a report it had smashed into a car and minibus in Gillingham.

Three men have since been arrested and several injured people have been treated at the scene.

One witness, who asked not to be named, said: "I witnessed it. I didn’t have my phone so asked the man walking behind me to call 999. He looked up after getting his phone out and said 'that was quick!' Less than 20 seconds and four police cars were there.

VIDEO: The scene of the crash

"They were chasing the car that smashed into everyone and the driver ran. Police chased him and got him to the floor and cabled tied his hands. It's miracle no one has been killed."

The assistant head teacher of Woodlands Primary said the crash happened at about 3.10pm, before pupils had finished for the day.

Sophie Hill said: "Thankfully it did not involve any of our children or parents. Parents were informed how to pick up their children and everything was under control."

A police spokesman said: "Kent Police officers are currently in Woodlands Road, Gillingham following a collision between two cars and a minibus.

"Officers requested a vehicle to stop at around 3.05pm on 22 March 2018 in Upper Luton Road, Chatham. When the vehicle failed to stop officers pursued it to Gillingham.

"At 3.10pm officers lost sight of the vehicle.

"Other patrols in the area then alerted officers to a road traffic collision in Woodlands Road, Gillingham at 3.11pm where this vehicle was found to have collided with a minibus and a car.

"South East Coast Ambulance Service attended and treated people at the scene for injuries and shock.

"Three men were arrested at the scene and have been taken in to custody.

"A road closure is in place on Woodlands Road from Beatty Avenue while the incident is investigated."

An ambulance service spokesman said crews were responding to reports of a crash involving a car and a minibus, adding: "We are at the scene and assessing injured people."