A GROUP of elderly people from Morecambe had a 'miraculous' escape from a horrific coach crash in York last Friday.

A coach, carrying 50 people from across Lancashire and the North-West, hit a lorry and careered across a field in a terrifying holiday road accident.

Amongst the most seriously injured were Gordon O'Donnell, 63, and wife Patricia, 59, both of whom were taken to York District Hospital, suffering from abdominal injuries. Two passengers with serious injuries had to be taken to St James' Hospital, Leeds by air ambulance. A total of seven people were said by North Yorkshire police to be seriously injured as a result of the crash.

Morecambe was one of more than a dozen different stop-off points for a five day holiday trip to the Yorkshire resort of Scarborough, organised by Chorley based Alfa Travel, which was struck by tragedy.

Emergency services say it was a miracle that nobody died in the accident, which took place on a busy stretch of the A64, close to the famous York horse racing track. Injured people were taken to five hospitals across the North Yorkshire area. Most were released having suffered only minor injuries.

A telephone hotline has since been set up by the trip's organisers for the families of those involved with the incident, on 01609 768111.