19 Die in Hungary Coach Crash

19 Polish pilgrims were killed and 32 injured when the bus they were travelling in overturned into a ditch in Hungary early this morning.

The party had been to on its way to Croatia and the accident happened near the popular Lake Balaton resort 100 miles south west of Budapest.

The bus was travelling at 50 miles per hour when it hit a raised stone border of a roundabout and flipped over into a ditch, according to the country's police chief Laszlo Salgo. 19 of the 50 passengers on board died at the scene.

Pal Gyorfy, a spokesman for the national ambulance service, said 17 of the injured were in a serious condition and one was critical. He added it was unlikely the driver fell asleep at the wheel as he had only taken over from his colleague half an hour earlier.

One woman had her legs trapped under the bus for seven hours until emergency workers were able to free her.

This morning there were conflicting reports about the condition of the driver.

A spokesman for local police, Ferenc Vass, said the victims included eight women, nine men and two children - a five-year-old girl and a 14-year-old boy.

He said police had yet not been able to question the driver or any of the surviving passengers.

"We have identified eight people on the basis of their passports and are working closely with the Polish embassy to identify the other victims," he said.

The Catholic priest who organised the tour was among the injured was among the injured.

The accident happened at 1.30 am local time (12.30am BST Monday).