A 14-year-old schoolgirl and a coach driver have died after a bus of schoolchildren overturned on the M53 this morning, Merseyside Police have confirmed.

Emergency services attended the scene on the M53 in Hooton following a collision involving a bus on the motorway just after 8am this morning.
 
The bus was carrying pupils from Calday Grange Grammar School and West Kirby Grammar School.

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During a press conference this afternoon, Merseyside Police have confirmed that a 14-year-old schoolgirl and the driver of the bus have died.

50 children were taken to an emergency casualty centre in Wallasey. 39 of those have now been discharged. 

Eight of those children have been taken to the Countess of Chester hospital and Arrowe Park hospital.

The M53 is expected to be closed for a "number of hours" whilst investigations are carried out after the incident.

Alder Hey Children’s Hospital and North West Ambulance Service (NWAS) later declared major incidents, although Alder Hey later de-escalated.