Packed coach crashes into ditch near A27

East Sussex Fire and Rescue Service, Sussex Police and the South East Coast Ambulance Service were called shortly before 10.45am to reports of a coach in difficulty on the Charleston track, near the A27 at Firle.

The coach had approximately 45 elderly passengers on board.

Fire crews from Newhaven and Lewes were dispatched, along with the Technical Rescue Unit from Lewes.

Firefighters helped to manually remove passengers from emergency exits using ladders. Due to the positioning of the doors as the coach was at an angle in the ditch, the normal exits were unable to be used. No one was hurt.

Richard Moon, Station Commander, said: “Crews worked in a very calm and controlled manner to safely evacuate each of the passengers from the coach. Luckily no one was hurt. The crews did a great job.”

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