An investigation is underway after a coach taking holidaymakers to Stansted airport collided with three cars and careered off a road in Bounds Green.

The National Express service, travelling from London Victoria to Stansted airport, lost control on the North Circular Road (A406), close to Telford Road at about 3.50am on Wednesday.

The coach left the road and plunged into a ditch near a small brook, close to residential housing.

The emergency services, including five ambulances, were on the scene within minutes to attend the injured.

Seven of the ten adult passengers on board the coach, along with the driver, were taken to hospital suffering from minor injuries and shock.

No one involved in the collision was seriously injured.

An eyewitness said: "The driver must surely have escaped death. It was a miracle people did not come to major harm."

The coach remained at the scene until the next morning as plans were made for its recovery.

The three other vehicles involved were removed from the scene.

A stretch of the A406 was closed between Telford Road and Bowes Road following the crash.

An investigation into the accident is being carried out by the Met's Traffic Serious Case Works Unit.

Resident Denise Selchouk, who lives close to the crash scene, said: "I was woken by the sound of the smash- there was a huge bang.

"The road was sealed off and there were police and ambulances everywhere. It looked liked total devastation and one car was completely smashed up."

A National Express spokeswoman said: "A member of the National Express team was called to the scene to accompany passengers to the North Middlesex Hospital in Edmonton.

National Express is helping to make arrangements for those passengers who have missed their flights.

"In the meantime, we are working closely with police to determine the cause of the incident."

Anyone with information should call the Traffic Serious Case Works Unit on 020 7230 1745.