Three men have been taken to hospital after a coach crashed into a ditch on the A146 at Beccles.

Eastern Daily Press: The scene of the coach crash on the A146 Beccly bypass.The scene of the coach crash on the A146 Beccly bypass. (Image: Archant)

Fire crews in Suffolk were called to evacuate 24 people from the coach, which belongs to Reynolds Coaches of Caister.

It is believed that the coach was carrying a party of Freemasons from the Great Yarmouth area who had attended a lodge meeting in London.

Police called Suffolk and Fire Rescue Service to attend the incident at 12.14am, and appliances from Bungay, Beccles and South Lowestoft were mobilised.

A police spokeswoman said the force was made aware of the incident at 12.10am, which was near to the Morrisons supermarket in the town.

She added that the coach was 'well off the road' and was in a ditch.

The fire service helped release passengers and made the coach safe.

Five ambulance crews, a rapid response vehicle and an ambulance officer attended the scene.

Two men with minor injuries were taken to James Paget University Hospital in Gorleston for further treatment.

A replacement coach took the uninjured and those with minor injuries to the nearby Beccles Fire Station, where ambulance crew treated a further five patients, and took one more to the James Paget University Hospital.

None of those taken to hospital had suffered serious injuries.

The road was partially closed while the recovery of the coach took place.

Fire crews had dealt with the incident by 1.26am, and the vehicle was recovered and the road had reopened by 3.50am.

•Did you see the incident or were you on the coach? Email amy.smith@archant.co.uk or call 01502 715674.