A double-decker coach carrying Italian schoolchildren and their teachers crashed near Stansted Airport when the driver died from a suspected heart-attack.

About 29 teenagers and four teachers were on board the luxury coach - owned by Luton-based firm Hallmark Coaches - when it left the road, ploughing through a crash barrier before coming to rest on a large roundabout.

They were travelling along an airport perimeter road at the beginning of their journey to an English language school in Norwich. Incredibly, none of them suffered any injuries.

The incident happened at about 2pm on Friday, just minutes after the Italians landed at Stansted on a flight from Rome.

A police spokesman said they had had a "lucky escape".

"All the passengers were uninjured but the driver was found dead at the scene," he said.

"Early indications are the driver may have suffered a heart-attack. No other vehicles were involved."

The driver was named as Patrick Gamble, 56, of Coalville, Leicestershire.

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