"There was a lot of screaming" - schoolgirl describes horror of being trapped on stricken bus

  • Calendar
The bus drove into flood water between Tollerton and Newton-on-Ouse Credit: Press Association

A schoolgirl has described the horror of the moment she realised the bus she was travelling on was stuck in flood water.

Grace Abbott made the call to emergency services after the school bus became trappedbetween Tollerton and Newton-on-Ouse this morning.

15-year-old Grace Abbott called emergency services when her school bus got stuck in flood water Credit: ITV Yorkshire

Speaking to ITV Calendar, the 15-year-old described how the driver went past a sign at the top of the road that said road closed.

The bus driver rang the Stephenson's bus service, but it was Grace who dialled 999 to alert fire crews, despite not knowing the name of the road.

Grace was left with minor injuries after she smashed the emergency exit window Credit: Grace Abbott

Grace says she smashed the emergency glass window in an attempt to prevent the 26 children on board from getting stuck, but decided not to climb out after the bus driver warned them against entering the water.

Flood water rises inside the stricken bus Credit: Instagram / Thomas Savison

The children, pupils of Easingwold School who were aged 11-18, waited fifteen minutes before being assisted off the bus by fire crews.

Proud mother Karen Smith said she was very thankful that no one was hurt, and glad her daughter was able to use her common sense.