Coach chief's pledge after crash

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Richard Bowker said the firm was "absolutely obsessed" with safety and stressed there would be full co-operation with the police following the crash.

He was speaking following the accident in which the single-decker coach clipped a kerb, hit a lamppost and a tree and toppled over on to the driver's side as it entered Newport Pagnell services on the southbound stretch of the M1.

The driver, who had to be cut free from the wreckage, was breath-tested at the scene and arrested shortly afterwards on suspicion of drink-driving and dangerous driving.

But Thames Valley Police officers said they would not interview the 34-year-old until his was well enough.

Speaking to the BBC Radio 4 Today programme, Mr Bowker said: "This is now a police investigation. We will fully co-operate with that and obviously we need to learn the detail of this ourselves as quickly as possible."

He said those injured were receiving "absolutely superb care" and the thoughts of all the firm's employees were with them.

Mr Bowker paid tribute to the "superb job" of the emergency services.

Collision investigators were conducting a fingertip search of the area on Tuesday after the coach was removed from the scene overnight.

Police are appealing for anyone who saw the vehicle, travelling from Birmingham to Stansted and Luton Airport, or the crash to contact them.