Bus collision with bridge in Cradley Heath

Nine people were injured when a bus roof sheared off after the vehicle hit a bridge, an ambulance service announced.

Two 15-years-old girls travelling on the the double-decker were thought to have suffered the worst injuries in the collision on Corngreaves Road in Cradley Heath, Birmingham.

One girl suffered a broken nose while the other complained of head, neck and back pain. Both were taken to Russells Hall Hospital, in Dudley, along with seven other patients aged five to 20 years old.

A West Midlands Ambulance Service spokeswoman said: "Given that there were a number of passengers on the upper deck at the time of the crash, it is astonishing that patients were not more seriously injured as this clearly had the potential to cause more harm."

National Express said in a statement that a full investigation into the cause of the accident would take place "as soon as possible".

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Stephen Nye from law firm Irwin Mitchell said: "This was clearly a serious incident, a number of people having been injured. Given the extent of the damage to the bus, it must have been moving at a significant speed, so it is perhaps fortuitous that more serious injuries were avoided.

"It is difficult to understand how a double Decker bus full with passengers could be stolen, as the driver should have been in the driving seat at all times. Obviously the police will be looking into this serious matter for some time yet. Whatever happened, the passengers are innocent victims and would be able to claim compensation for their injuries from the bus company, even if the vehicle was stolen at the time."