A school bus carrying up to 70 people has crashed in Northern Ireland today, as emergency services declare it a major incident.

Police and ambulance services attended the scene on Ballyblack Road East near Carrowdore in Co Down this evening.

The Police Service of Northern Ireland described the incident as a “serious road traffic collision”.

The Northern Ireland Ambulance Service said it was “with a major incident at Carrowdore involving a bus with up to 70 passengers”.

It added that it had dispatched “multiple resources” to the scene.

The Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service said: “Five fire appliances and the specialist rescue team are currently at the scene of a road traffic collision involving an overturned bus on the Ballyblack Road East, Newtownards.”

READ MORE:  Four officers injured and arrests made following violent incidents after SPFL match

Ambulance services have confirmed that more than 50 of the passengers had sustained minor injuries, or were uninjured, while eight people are being treated on the scene for more significant injuries.

In a statement, a spokesperson said: “A bus carrying more than 60 passengers has overturned.

“NIAS has despatched multiple resources to the scene including doctors, emergency crews, advanced paramedics, rapid response paramedics, ambulance officers and the Air Ambulance with HEMS crew on board.

“Over 50 of the passengers have minor injuries, if any, with eight patients being treated for more significant injuries at the scene.

“The situation is ongoing and NIAS will release more information as it becomes available.”