THE York school at the centre of a bus crash in which 20 people were injured is working with the city safety chiefs to cut out road hazards outside its gates.

The head teacher at Archbishop Holgate's School John Harris has been working with City of York Council to introduce a raft of changes costing £70,000 this year and next, including extending the 30mph zone around the school and upgrading pedestrian crossings.

Twenty people were injured yesterday when the driver of a number ten First Bus braked sharply, narrowly avoiding a schoolgirl who was trying to cross Hull Road, near Archbishop Holgate's School.

The bus passengers were thrown forward and eight passengers were taken to York Hospital, six of them school pupils.

The children were released from hospital yesterday morning after being treated for cuts and bruises.

Two men one with head injuries and the other with rib injuries were discharged from hospital late yesterday.

In September, five children suffered minor injuries when a double-decker First bus that had been transporting them to school shuddered to a halt on Hull Road.

It was believed two cyclists pulled out at a junction in to its path outside the school.

Mr Harris said: "We have been particularly active in working with City of York Council to make the road as safe as possible. We have been successful in getting the speed limit down from 50mph to 40 and now 30mph and we would like to see a further reduction to 20mph in keeping with other schools."

Mr Harris said pupils at the school had "reacted magnificently" since the incident and he paid tribute to the bus driver for his quick reaction.

Pete Zanzottera, road safety officer with City of York Council, said all schools in York have a school safety zone around them.

He said: "We have £70,000 of infrastructure to go in at Archbishop Holgate's this year and next including upgrading pedestrian crossings and extending the 30mph zone. We have been working very closely with the head on this and will continue to do so."

Peter Edwards, commercial director for First York, said the firm will contact both the school and the council to review safety in the area.

Updated: 10:12 Tuesday, November 02, 2004