A schoolboy who escaped a frightening school bus crash in Cumbernauld has described the moment he knew the bus was going to overturn.

Our Lady's High School pupil, Joe Smith, 12, was on the bus with friends when the schoolbus overturned into an embankment just yards from the school gates on Dowanhill Road, Cumbernauld. 

Read more: 22 children in hospital after school bus crashes into ditch in Cumbernauld

He said: "We thought the engine was malfunctioning because the bus was shaking. We came to the corner and the bus started to speed up. We hit the lamp post and the bus tipped and fell over.

"Unfortunately I fell on one of my friends. When we were on the bus, we heard people shouting. We heard people crying. I heard one of my pals shouting."

Speaking of the moments after the bus crashed Joe said: "The driver smashed the emergency window so we could get out. Our science teacher Mr Gregor came to the bus to help pull people out.

I tried to help too. There were lots of severe injuries, I don't want to say names, but it's quite sad.

Read more: 22 children in hospital after school bus crashes into ditch in Cumbernauld

I was quite upset to see my friends in pain but I'm ok now."

A 16-year-old girl was taken by ambulance to Wishaw General hospital for treatment. 

Four other girls, aged 15, 13, 12 and 12 have been taken by ambulance to Wishaw General Hospital for observations. 

Police Scotland, Scottish Fire and Rescue Service and paramedics were at the scene.

A spokeswoman for Police Scotland said: "At around 8.45am hours on Thursday, February 9 2017, police and emergency services responded to reports of a single-deck school bus having overturned on Dowanfield Road in Cumbernauld. 

"44 passengers have left the bus and are currently being assessed at the scene and there are no serious injuries reported at this time. 

"A 16-year-old girl has been taken by ambulance to Monklands for what is believed to be non-serious injuries at this time. 

"Four other girls, aged 15, 13, 12 and 12 have been taken by ambulance to Wishaw General Hospital for observations.

"Emergency services remain at the scene and enquiries are ongoing to determine the circumstances surrounding the incident."

In a statement, North Lanarkshire Council said: "A single decker bus overturned just before 9am this morning close to Our Lady's HS, Cumbernauld.

Read more: 22 children in hospital after school bus crashes into ditch in Cumbernauld

"The bus was coming from the Abronhill area (Moss Road), with around 50 pupils on board.

"At the moment there are no reports of serious injuries. However, two pupils have been taken to hospital as a precaution.

"Police Scotland, Scottish Fire and Rescue Service and paramedics are currently on site. The pupils are being attended to by school staff and emergency services in the assembly hall.

"All parents have been contacted."

A Scottish Ambulance Service spokesman said: "We responded to a call from the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service at 8.46am today.

"We have dispatched multiple resources to an address in Cumbernauld."

Ashleigh Douglas, 30, of Ravenswood, Cumbernauld, was going to the shops with her five-year-old daughter Esther when she saw the bus go down the embankment.

She said: "It's a very dangerous road. It leads down to the football pitches at the bottom.

"I saw the bus turn the corner and it clipped the kerb. It looked like the left-hand wheel had caught fire and then all of a sudden it went over the embankment.

"Luckily Esther never saw anything and just saw the police arrive."

A large HGV rescue vehicle is in place, ready to hoist the bus from the embankment. The bus remains on the side with its indicator still flashing.