DOZENS of children fled from a coach on the M3 near Basingstoke moments before it was engulfed in a fireball last night.

The children escaped from the double decker coach before it burst into flames on the northbound carriageway between junctions 5 and 6.

Twenty-five firefighters from Basingstoke, Overton and Odiham were called to the scene at 7.30pm and they extinguished the blaze at about 9.30pm.

None of the children were hurt and one adult was treated by paramedics for shock.

The children had been on a day trip and were travelling from Weymouth to Luton.

Police closed the carriageway and traffic was diverted along the A30 before it was later reopened.

See Monday’s Gazette for more on the story.