A man died and three people are critically ill after a coach carrying more than 70 passengers plunged down a steep embankment in Staffordshire.

The man, a 26-year-old from Poland, was pronounced dead at the scene of the crash in Alton, close to the Alton Towers theme park.

Twenty-one people were taken to local hospitals in Stoke-on-Trent, Stafford, Burton and Selly Oak, Birmingham, and dozens more sustained minor injuries.

Two of the injured were airlifted to hospital and paramedics treated "walking wounded" at the medical centre at Alton Towers.

The single-decker coach, from Peterborough, Cambridgeshire, was travelling from Alton Towers theme park towards Alton village, along Station Road, when it crashed shortly before 6pm on Monday.

It collided with two stationary vehicles and smashed through a wall before plunging 10 to 15 feet down an embankment, Staffordshire Police said. The coach eventually came to a stop on its side, in a resident's garden.

The passengers, from Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Romania and South Africa, had been on a day trip to the theme park. They are believed to be farm workers.

Murray MacGregor, spokesman for West Midlands Ambulance Service, said the coach driver, a British man from Lincolnshire, was seriously injured.

Shocked residents described hearing a crash like a thunder clap, before screams and shouts.

Margaret Grice, who lives in Station Road, near the crash scene, opened her door and found "12 or 15 young people standing there, crying and with blood running down them".

The woman whose garden the coach crashed into, Terri Peachey, said: "It just sounded like a clap of thunder. I saw the coach flying through the garden and dialled 999."

She said she grabbed towels and took them out to help the injured who she said were bleeding, crying and lying on the floor.

Ms Peachey said the wreckage was around 20ft from her home.

Another resident described the road on which the coach crashed as "mayhem".

Martin Bredda, who lives close to the scene of the crash, said: "It's an extremely dangerous road. It's a narrow country road. It's mayhem, absolute mayhem.

"We had a torrential downpour of rain just before it happened. It was an accident waiting to happen."

Visitors to Alton Towers should expect disruption to their journey today as a result of the road closure.

Chief Inspector John Maddox from Staffordshire Police said: "We're currently carrying out enquiries into how this crash happened, gathering evidence from the scene and speaking to witnesses.

"This is likely to take some time given the nature of the incident and the diverse background of those involved.

"We have a number of interpreters helping us and our officers are currently liaising with the relevant embassies to keep them fully informed.

"At this point, I'd like to take this opportunity to thank all of the responding agencies and Alton Towers for their support. Our priority later this morning is to examine the bus.

"Officers from our collision investigation unit will be at the scene along with specialist vehicle examiners from VOSA.

"Once these thorough investigations have been completed the bus will be removed using specialist equipment.

"Station Road in Alton will remain closed until the removal operation is safely finished - all we can say at this stage is that this is likely to be some time today.

"We apologise for any inconvenience this causes to local residents and Alton Towers visitors and would encourage those planning a trip later today to check the latest travel news or Alton Towers website."

Ian Sloss, group manager for Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service said: "Our thoughts are with the family and friends of the deceased and the injured.

"Our crews have worked extremely hard in difficult circumstances and alongside the police and paramedics have helped rescue the occupants of the coach.

"They are now working with a specialist heavy rescue team who have been called in to support the operation to recover the coach."

A West Midlands Ambulance Service Spokesman added: "All the emergency services worked extremely well together in difficult circumstances.

"The accident occurred in a very difficult area to access, with the coach ending up on its side down a steep embankment which hampered rescue attempts.

"West Midlands Ambulance Service called upon a large number of resources to ensure that all patients received the best possible treatment as quickly as possible.

"Unfortunately one person died, but due to the scale and seriousness of the incident it's fortunate indeed there were not more serious or indeed, fatal casualties.

"We would also like to pay tribute to the operators of Alton Towers for providing a bus and facilities to help with the treatment of the casualties."