Eight school pupils and a teacher have been injured in a road accident in northern France.

The incident happened when a car crashed into the Dalbeattie High School group's bus, which was carrying around 50 teenagers.

The casualties are being treated in hospital after firefighters cut some people from the wreckage, local media reported.

None of the pupils are thought to be badly hurt; however, the driver of the car is thought to have been seriously injured.

The crash happened on Monday afternoon near Alencon in Normandy, with parents reportedly being informed by text from the school shortly afterwards.

A tweet sent from the school's Twitter account at around 2pm on Monday had shown a view from the bus window and the comment "View from the Dalbeattie High adventure bus is not too shabby! Had our lunch & 2hrs from the Chateau de Tertre."

A Scottish Government spokeswoman said: "We are closely monitoring the situation in France following a bus crash involving a school trip from Scotland and our thoughts are with those affected and families worried about loved ones.

"The Scottish Government is in direct contact with Dumfries and Galloway education department and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, and we stand ready to offer support and assistance as appropriate."

A Foreign Office spokesman said: "We are in contact with the authorities in France following a bus crash on 28 September. We have been in direct contact with the school and offered consular assistance to the British nationals involved."