An investigation has been launched after a bus carrying several school children came off the road and “entered a ditch”.

Around seven passengers were travelling on a Redroute 308 bus along the A227 Gravesend Road, near Vigo, at 7.32am today (March 10) when it careered into a verge.

No injuries were reported but concerned parents think the bus, which runs between Gravesend and Sevenoaks, should be checked to see when it was last serviced.

One parent’s 13-year-old daughter was travelling onboard when she called to say the vehicle had swerved and then gone up the bank on the left hand side.

The mum-of-two said: “My daughter is quite nervous to get the bus again - they were quite shook up.

“There are no seatbelts on the bus so they were jolted around a bit.”

She added: “I think Redroute need to investigate what exactly happened.”

Redroute buses run a number of school services under contract to Kent County Council (KCC) who confirmed to KentOnline the bus operator is investigating the incident and it is working with them to “understand the circumstances”.

After the incident it was also reported children were told to get out and walk down the road, which has no footpath.

A parent told KentOnline: “I think the children should have stayed with a responsible adult rather than walk down a busy A road with no foot paths.

“So that’s obviously a concern of myself and a couple of other parents who had children on the bus.”

A spokesperson from KCC said: “We were made aware of an incident this morning involving a Redroute bus.

“There was no collision and no injuries. The vehicle was replaced by another one, and passengers were able to complete their journeys safely.

“Redroute is investigating, and we will work with them to understand the circumstances.”

The local authority was asked whether all children involved were picked up by the replacement vehicle.

Police were also pictured at the scene assisting this morning.

A spokesperson confirmed they were called to a report a bus had “entered a ditch” at the side of the A227 near Vigo, Gravesend.

They said: “No other vehicles were involved and there were no injuries. Officers attended and the bus has now been recovered from the scene.”

Redroute Buses Ltd were approached for comment.