A coach carrying Royal Marines to RAF Brize Norton skidded off the A40 in icy conditions today, leaving six men injured.

Twenty-nine marines from 42 Commando were on board the coach driving from Plymouth to the RAF station, near Carterton, when it crashed at Puesdown, between Northleach and Cheltenham, at about 5.20am.

One marine was treated at the scene for minor injuries and four were taken to Cheltenham General Hospital with minor injuries.

The 39-year-old driver, from Plymouth, was seriously injured and taken to Gloucestershire Royal Hospital, in Gloucester.

None of the men is believed to have suffered life-threatening injuries.

The Royal Marines were due to fly out from Brize Norton for duty in Afghanistan.

The road was still closed at 11.30am.