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More than 40 people, including seven children, have been injured after a coach crashed through a barrier and overturned at the bottom of an embankment on the M25.

Three of them suffered "serious" injuries in the collision and have been rushed to hospital, it has been confirmed.

Police, fire and ambulance crews are at the scene, with the anti-clockwise slip road at junction 3 closed.

Kent Police later confirmed a baby boy was born at the scene of the M25 crash.

Highways officials warned that queues of more than seven miles had built up in the aftermath of the crash, which happened at around 4pm close to the Dartford Crossing.

It could take until nearly midnight for the road to fully reopen, with drivers currently experiencing delays of around 90 minutes.

A nearby hospital confirmed that it has declared a major incident, and firefighters used specialist cutting gear to free two passengers.

Have you been affected by the crash? Email webnews@trinitymirror.com

(Image: UKNIP) (Image: PA) (Image: Andrei Branescu / bbc southeast) (Image: UKNIP)

Builder Mitchell Melvin,24, from Sidcup, and two pals helped pull passengers from the coach after the horror crash.

Their van was travelling close to the coach when it overturned.

Mitchell said: "We were leaving the M25 and we heard this large sound. The lorry came past us and slid straight in front of us.

"We went down the side of the bus and saw lots of people had went through the side windows.

"The bus landed on its side. I went and got the hammer and smashed the back window. "A fence post had went up through the windows. I think the fence stopped the bus from falling down.

(Image: PA)

"There was lots of screaming. One of the kids was stuck underneath. They had been sitting on the left-hand side bus. The kids were about six or seven years old.

"Some of the passengers were bleeding and had big patches of blood. "We were quite lucky. The fire brigade said if it had come down on to the slip road they would have been scraping up dead bodies."

He thought the coach was doing about 30-40 mph when it crashed. Mitchell added the driver appeared "pretty shaken" when he and his friends pulled him from the side of the coach.

Ambulance chiefs confirmed that the majority of people on the coach had suffered minor injuries, but no further details have yet been released.

The South East Coast Ambulance Service tweeted: "Following reports of a coach involved in an RTC on the M25 at J3, we have 41 patients.

"Currently, 31 adults and 7 children with minor injuries, three other patients with more serious injuries taken to hospital."

A spokeswoman from King's College NHS Trust, which runs Princess University Hospital in Orpington, Kent, told Mirror Online that a major incident had been declared.

She said: "We've declared a major incident status.

"This means that we're preparing to accept casualties from the incident."

(Image: PA) (Image: UKNIP)

It is believed that the vehicle was returning from a day trip in Portsmouth.

A spokesman from the bus company, Green's of London, said: "Everybody is ok. The coach was coming back to London.

"We've been told not to divulge any information because of the group that was on board but everybody is ok."

A statement from the Highways England said: "In Kent, the M25 anti-clockwise is fully blocked at J3 due to a serious incident.

"The M25 J3 anti-clockwise exit slip road is also closed to allow the Emergency services work at the scene.

"Severe delays of over an hour and a half are being measured on the approach to the incident.

"Road users are advised to consider alternative routes and to allow additional time for their journey."

(Image: UKNIP)

And Kent Police said in a statement: "Kent Police was called to a report a coach had overturned on an M25 slip road at around 4pm on Monday 13 August.

"The incident happened at junction three on the anti-clockwise carriageway and the slip road is currently closed, along with lanes one and two of the M25.

"Officers attended the scene alongside crews from the South East Coast Ambulance Service and Kent Fire and Rescue Service.

"All people aboard the coach have been accounted for and a number of people have received treatment at the scene for minor injuries before being conveyed to local hospitals.

"A further three people have been taken to local hospitals with more serious injuries.

"Specialist recovery for the coach has been arranged however it is anticipated the slip road will remain closed for several hours.

"Motorists are advised to expect delays and, where possible, consider using another route."

A spokesman said: "Pleased to update no serious injuries with overturned coach at junction 3 M25. Proud to see all emergency services working so effectively together.

"And just to make things interesting a baby boy was born at scene."

Three fire engines were sent to the scene, alongside several vehicles from the Kent Fire and Rescue Service heavy rescue team.00