North Ayrshire bus crash leaves one dead and 11 hurt after collision with 4x4 near Ardrossan

The accident happened on the A78 at around 2:15pm, police say

One person has died int he collision between a bus and a car in Ardrossan, Scotland (EPA)

One person has died and 12 people have been injured after a crash involving a bus and a 4x4 vehicle on Scotland's west coast.

The accident happened on the A78 just north of Ardrossan at around 2:15pm, police said.

Two people have been flown to hospital in Glasgow while nine others were treated at the scene or transferred to near Crosshouse Hospital for observations.

The bus was travelling from Greenock to Ayr.

A bus and a 4x4 were involved in the accident at around 2:15pm on Monday (EPA)

A Police Scotland spokeswoman said: "Police and emergency services responded to reports of a serious road traffic collision between a service bus and a 4x4 vehicle on the A78, north of Ardrossan, close to the Rowan Tree restaurant.

"One person has been pronounced dead at the scene and two people have been taken to the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital by air and by road ambulance.

"Nine others have been treated at the scene or transferred to Crosshouse Hospital for observations."

A spokeswoman for the bus's operator, Stagecoach, said: "We can confirm that one of our vehicles was involved in a serious incident this afternoon on the A78 near Ardrossan. The service involved was the Service 585 from Greenock to Ayr.

"Our first thoughts are with those affected by this incident.

"The safety of our passengers and staff is our highest priority and we are assisting the police fully with their investigation into the circumstances."

The A78 is currently closed both ways and emergency services are at the scene. Local diversions are in place via West Kilbride and Dalry.

It is currently not known how long the diversions will remain in place.

Additional reporting by PA