A BEWDLEY grandfather has spoken of the moment the bridge he was driving a bus across with schoolchildren on board began to collapse in front of him.

Two minibuses carrying children from a Tenbury Wells school attempted to cross the Grade II listed Eastham Bridge at around 3.30pm on Tuesday afternoon (May 24) before it began to collapse over the River Teme.

The driver of the first bus, 62-year-old Derek Trow, from Bewdley, who works for Kidderminster-based Holland Coaches, noticed the road giving way in front of him and the quick-thinking driver slammed the vehicle into reverse to save those on board from harm.

Luckily, no one was injured in the incident.

Mr Trow said: “There was an almighty row and the apex collapsed. We would have gone down there.

“We were just lucky.

“There were two buses – I was in the lead. I had just got onto the bridge when I saw just over the apex some of the road had given way.

“I stopped and gestured to the bus behind me to move so I could reverse back to get my wheels off the bridge.

“I have been driving buses for about 17 years and that is where you training kicks in.

“You just do it.”

Mr Trow, who was back at work as normal yesterday (Wednesday), added: “You have just got to keep going – the kids still have to get to school.

“It was back to work as usual, albeit with a 12 to 13-mile detour.”

The grandfather and father-of-two, was described by Steve Mole, partner in Holland Coaches, as an experienced driver who had been in the role for nearly 20 years.

Mr Mole said: “He noticed some bricks missing.

“He entered the bridge and it literally collapsed in front of him. He reversed to get off.

“He took it all in his stride to be honest, and he’s back at work today.

“The driver in the bus behind was more concerned.

“Three or four seconds later he would not have been able to do anything about it.

“He’s very lucky.”

Mr Mole said Mr Trow would not see himself as a hero, just that it was his job to get the children home.

Pupils from Lindridge St Lawrence School were on the buses at the time.

Headteacher, Julie Page, said: “According to the account given by the drivers and children, as the first bus drove onto the bridge, they noticed masonry crumbling and falling from the side of the bridge and they described hearing a loud ‘bang’.

“The buses quickly reversed off the bridge and then watched as the bridge collapsed into the River Teme below.

“The children were all returned safely to school where the drivers efficiently arranged to take them home via an alternative route whilst we sent out an emergency message to inform parents.

“We are very grateful for the quick thinking of the bus drivers concerned and thank god that our children were unharmed.”

West Mercia Police and the Worcestershire County Council highways team were both called out to the bridge.