AN eleven-year-old boy was taken to hospital after suffering smoke inhalation when 40 children had to be evacuated from a burning coach on the M4 on Sunday night.

The single-decker South Gloucester Bus and Coach service was enveloped in flames after the front of the bus caught fire shortly after 9.15pm, on the westbound carriageway at the exit slip road for Junction 16.

All three emergency services were in attendance after being alerted by the driver of the coach, which was travelling from London to Bristol, and the children on board were evacuated safely by the time they arrived at the scene.

The 11-year-old was the only casualty, and was treated at the scene for smoke inhalation before being taken to Great Western Hospital.

Fire crews from Wootton Bassett and Westlea, along with a water carrier from Ramsbury, also attended to extinguish flames. The westbound carriageway was closed for several hours due to the plume of smoke billowing from the back of the coach across the motorway.

A spokesman for Wiltshire Police said: “Wiltshire Police received a call from a coach driver at around 9.20pm saying that his vehicle, which was carrying approximately 40 children, was on fire.

“The vehicle, stopped on the entry slip road to the M4 at Junction 16 westbound, had been evacuated successfully when we received the call.

“Fire and ambulance attended, and one child was treated by paramedics.

“Due to the amount of smoke from the back of the coach the carriageway was closed between junction 15 and 16 for a number of hours.

"The road was fully opened at 1am today (May 11) after the damaged vehicle had been recovered.

“The children were collected by another coach.”

A spokesman for the South Western Ambulance Service said: “We were called at 9.55pm to reports of a coach on fire between Junction 16 and 17 of the M4.

“Approximately 45 people were on board, mostly children. We sent a rapid response vehicle, an officer, our hazardous area response team, and two ambulances.

“Initial reports were that there was one male casualty, an 11-year-old child, who was treated for smoke inhalation and taken to Great Western Hospital. There were also other people who were assessed at the scene, but no other casualties were taken to hospital.”

The coach company runs several National Express services as well as provision for around 40 local schools from the Bristol area, and was recently awarded the contract for the new Bristol Technology and Engineering Academy, which opened in September.

South Gloucester Bus and Coach company declined to comment on the incident when approached.