Two dead in Cornwall coach crash

Two passengers have died and seven others have been seriously injured after a coach ploughed into a hedge and crashed.

The coach, which was carrying passengers aged 60 and over from Exmouth to Looe, crashed on the A387 at Morval, at around 1pm.

A woman died at the scene while a second person was pronounced dead on arrival at Derriford Hospital in Plymouth.

The driver of the coach - a 57 year old man from Exeter - has been arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving.

Photographs taken at the scene show some of the coach's distinctive blue and red seats lying across the road.

A police spokesman said: "The collision has been declared a major incident and numerous emergency services are at the scene dealing with the collision."

Three air ambulances, one from Cornwall and two from Devon, flew to the crash site to tend to the passengers.

All seven of those who had been seriously injured were taken to Derriford Hospital in Plymouth.

Meanwhile, other passengers who had been on board were taken to a village hall in Morval where four walking wounded were treated for their injuries. Locals helped by handing out tea and coffee.

Roberta Powley, who lives in the nearby village of No Man's Land, said she had been told the coach had been taking pensioners on a trip to Looe when it crashed near the Snooty Fox country hotel.

Mrs Powley said: "I think they were all OAPs on a trip. they were heading down to Looe. They have opened up what used to be the Memorial Hall in Morval and giving them tea and coffee.

"I was told the coach crashed at the Snooty Fox, and that is up a very steep hill going down into Looe."

The coach was travelling towards Looe from the direction of Plymouth, between Sandplace and Widegates, when it crashed.

Devon Air Ambulance tweeted a message of condolence to those injured.

Tracy Chudleigh of Morval parish council said:

The coach was operated by Carmel Coaches. A statement posted on the company website reads:

Duncan Sleightholme has the latest from the crash scene at Morval near Looe.