A Travelmasters coach driver involved in a crash which killed three people has been bailed by police.

He had been arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving after the coach was in a crash with a car carrying three men in their 20s returning home from a night out in London. They all died.

The coach driver was given unconditional bail and is due to return to Bedfordshire Police HQ in May.

No-one on board the coach itself was hurt in the crash, which happened near Flitwick between junctions 12 and 13, at 6.45am yesterday.

It is now known that all three passengers in the Audi A3 were men in their twenties who were returning to their Buckinghamshire homes following a night out in London.

Two died at the scene and the third is in a critical but stable condition at the John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford following surgery.

The driver of the car died and was a man in his late 50s from London.

All next of kin have now been located and are being supported by specially trained family liaision officers from Bedfordshire Police.

A spokesman for the Queenborough-based firm confirmed none of its passengers was injured.

Tim Lambkin, boss of the coach firm, said the 71-seater coach was travelling from Canterbury University to Birmingham. It was carrying a group of cheerleaders who were attending an event at the city's LG Arena.

He confirmed none of the passengers was injured and the vehicle was returning to Canterbury.

He said: "It's too early at this stage to comment on how the accident happened.

"The driver has been arrested as a precautionary measure, as is normal in these circumstances, and the vehicle has been taken away.

"Our thoughts and prayers are with those who lost their lives and their families."

Bedfordshire Police are appealing for witnesses to the accident.

Anyone with information should call 101 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.