NINETEEN primary school children were taken to hospital after a car crashed into the bus carrying them back from a trip.

A police investigation has been launched after officers said a motorist, who they believe was lost, had misjudged the junction of Hamilton Street and Aqueduct Road, in Mill Hill, Blackburn.

The collision with the side of the bus happened at 2.30pm yesterday.

The 37 nine and ten-year-old St Gabriel's Primary School pupils on board, who were returning from a visit to Blackburn Rovers' Ewood Park, were thrown about and the two vehicles were damaged.

A teaching assistant and the deputy head teacher were also on board.

The coach driver and car driver were said to be shaken but unharmed.

A relief coach was despatched and took 19 children to hospital, before returning the rest of the pupils back to school for 3.40pm.

Harry Sharples, head of the school, in Wilworth Crescent, Roe Lee, Blackburn, said the children were taken to hospital as a precaution.

All were quickly released from Blackburn Royal Infirmary once medical staff were certain none were injured.

Sergeant Stuart Isherwood, of the road policing unit, said it was possible there may be charges arising from the incident.

The investigation into the cause of the crash was due to continue today after being hampered yesterday by having to account for each of the 19 children.

Sgt Isherwood added: "It was a minor collision and the damage made it look worse than it was.

"But because of the people involved there will be an inquiry.

"They were in collision enough for damage to be caused and people to be thrown about on the bus.

"It is early days and we cannot yet say if anything will happen, but we are investigating."

Mr Sharples added: "Nobody has suffered any injuries.

A number of children were taken to hospital as a precaution but all have been sent home."

Firefighters were also sent to the crash scene in case the children were trapped.

They were not needed for that but they did clean up the debris.

Paramedics attended, although no one from the ambulance service was available for comment.