Pupils were forced to evacuate their school bus and walk the rest of the journey on Tuesday morning.

Some pupils who were travelling to Robert Bloomfield Middle School were treated for smoke inhalation after a mechanical fault occurred on their school bus.

Headteacher Adrian Rogers said: "The safety of our children is our main priority and we will be working closely with Bedford Borough Council to ascertain what happened.

"The children who were affected by smoke, are healthy and back in school"

The driver was forced to stop the bus a short distance from the school after a fault caused oil to get into the engine, resulting in smoke.

A spokesman for Bedford Borough said: "All children were safely transported to the school although we understand that a number of children have been checked for the effects of smoke inhalation as a matter of course.

"Our prime concern is for the safety of our passengers. Officers are now working hard to fully investigate this matter and take any necessary act-ion."