THE driver of a Black Country coach which overturned on the M5 remained in hospital this morning (Wednesday).

He was among six people taken to hospitals in the Bristol area after yesterday's crash involving a 57-seat passenger vehicle from Prospect Coaches in Lye, Stourbridge.

The 60-year-old male driver, who has worked for the firm for eight years, suffered back injuries in the smash which saw the coach career off the motorway into a ditch - near junction 13, near Stroud, Gloucestershire.

Chris Nice, spokesman from the Confederation of Passenger Transport, said on behalf of Prospect Coaches: "Only the driver remains in hospital but his injuries are minor."

Five people - four adults and a child - have already been discharged, he said.

A total of 54 people (including the driver) were onboard the coach which was one of four Prospect passenger vehicles heading from the Black Country to Weston-super-Mare for a seaside day trip.

The coach involved in the crash was one of two taking adults and children from the Action for Children day centre in West Bromwich to the beach. The other two coaches had picked up day-trippers from a children's centre in Kate's Hill, Dudley.

CPT spokesman Mr Nice said the overturned coach has now been removed from the scene and he added: "It will be tested and when the driver's ready to be interviewed he'll speak with his employers and the police."

The crash, which happened at around 10am yesterday, left the motorway closed between junctions 13 and 14 throughout much of the day.