A MOTORIST died and two passengers were left with serious injuries after a crash between a car and a coach carrying 39 schoolchildren.

The 52-seater vehicle collided with a white Ford Fiesta, leaving the female car driver dead and two female passengers in hospital with serious injuries.

The 11 and 12-year-olds and three of their teachers, believed to be from a school in Alton, were returning from a trip to Stubbington along the A32 near Wickham when the white Ford Fiesta turned on to the A32 from Bishops Wood Road.

The occupants of the coach were all unhurt, but the driver and teachers who witnessed the crash were described as very shaken.

The road is one of a number of blackspots identified by traffic police because of previous accident statistics.

The driver, who is yet to be identified, was pronounced dead at the scene. Her two passengers are being treated for their injuries at the Queen Alexandra Hospital at Cosham. All three are believed to be local.

Another coach arrived to take the children back to their school shortly after the accident, and shocked children and their parents were comforted by a Hampshire Ambulance incident officer.

The accident occurred at 1.40pm yesterday between the Roebuck Inn and the junction with Buddens Lane.

No arrests have been made.

No one from Alton coach firm Altonian was available to comment on the accident.

A section of the A32 remained closed for about five hours as police carried out an investigation of the scene.

Diversions were set up around Bishop's Waltham, Wickham and Corhampton.

Police are speaking to a number of witnesses to the accident, but are appealing for anyone with any information to call 0845 045 4545.

The A32 has become notorious as an accident blackspot, especially for motorbike riders.

In December, 31-year-old Chris Mills of Fareham died when his motorbike struck a car, close to the site of yesterday's accident. He lost his fight for life at the roadside.

Naval apprentice Andy Port, 21, died last July after losing control of his motorbike on the road. An inquest heard his glasses had probably misted up, causing him to veer into a tree stump.

Twelve months ago a 76-year-old Fareham pensioner was trapped in her wrecked car for half an hour after it collided head on with another vehicle on the A32 at Dean Farm, south of yesterday's accident.

A disaster was narrowly avoided two years ago when a van and a lorry collided and careered into a petrol station, demolishing pumps, near West Meon village.