A WOMAN and a teenage girl were injured today in a crash involving a coach and a car on the A40 near Oxford.

They were both in a blue Rover when it was in collision with an Oxford Bus Company's single-decker Espress from London, shortly after 9am.

Firefighters spent about 30 minutes cutting the driver and passenger out of the Rover following the collision.

Both were taken to the John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford, by ambulance.

Police said this afternoon that a 14-year-old girl, who was the passenger in the Rover, sustained serious head injuries.

The driver, a woman in her twenties, sustained minor cuts and bruises.

One lane of the dual carriageway was closed to allow collision investigators to fully investigate the incident.

PC Greg Stewart, who is investigating the collision, said: "Many of the passengers on the bus dispersed before we were able to talk with them. I would urge anyone that was on the bus to please get in touch with us. I would also like to hear from anyone else who may have witnessed the incident."

Oxford Bus Company spokesman Phil Ashworth said: "It would appear that the accident happened at the junction of Collinwood Road.

"No one on the coach was injured, but our thoughts are with the driver of the car and its occupants and we hope they make a speedy recovery.

"The bus driver was shaken, but otherwise unhurt."

It is not known how many passengers were on the coach at the time, but none required hospital treatment.

As a result of the accident, traffic was queuing along the A40 as far back as the M40.