FIVE people have been airlifted from the scene of a crash after a tourist bus veered off a popular tourist route and plunged down an embankment.

More than twenty people were injured in the accident A83 near the Rest And Be Thankful in Argyll yesterday, which is now being investigated by the police and other emergency services.

In total, there were 51 people on board the Lochs and Glens Holidays coach when it left the road and slid down rough ground, stopping just short of Loch Restil.

Eleven people were in hospital last night, with their conditions described as stable.

The five most badly injured are being treated at the Southern General Hospital in Glasgow and the Royal Alexandra Hospital in Paisley. A further six are at the Western Infirmary in Glasgow. The condition of all those injured is described as stable.

Police, fire and helicopter rescue crews were sent to the scene and the road was been closed while emergency services treated passengers and began the investigate the cause of the crash.

Images showed the coach standing upright on an embankment off the A83, next to the loch with a human chain of injured passengers being led to safety.

Artist and local gallery owner Stuart Herd witnessed the accident.

He said: "It was more serious than I first thought, it was pretty nasty. It seemed to slide down the embankment."

Road Policing Inspector Adam McKenzie said: "A tour bus which was heading through Argyll was struck by a very strong gust of wind which unfortunately blew it on to the muddy verge, causing the bus to flip on its side and roll down the hill coming to a rest at the side of Loch Restil.

"Fifty one persons were on board and thankfully we can account for every single person."

A Police Scotland spokesman added: "Around 2.10pm, a coach with tourists, overturned on the A83 Rest And Be Thankful.

"It is understood that five are believed to be seriously injured, but not thought to be life-threatening. They are being taken by ambulance or medevac to either the Southern or the RAH for treatment.

"Twenty-five people are described as 'walking wounded'. Emergency services are at the scene. The A83 is closed, with local diversions in place."

A spokesman for the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service said: "Crews from across Argyll are at the scene. Firefighters are working closely with police and ambulance to help people who were on board a coach that overturned."

Lochs and Glens Holidays runs a number of coach trips, mainly in the Scottish Highlands, but picks up passengers across the UK.

It is understood that the party were elderly tourists from Kent who had booked for a trip around the area's landmarks and spectacular scenery.

The closure of the A83, the main route to Argyll, means motorists face almost 60 mile diversions.

A spokeswoman for Lochs and Glens said: "We are liaising with the emergency services regarding the injured passengers and to establish the cause of the accident.

"In the meantime, buses have been provided to transport the remaining passengers back to their hotel."

Transport Minister Derek Mackay said: "Scottish ministers have been kept fully informed of this serious incident across the afternoon and our immediate thoughts are with the passengers who have been transported to hospital.

"The emergency services have been working closely with helicopters from both Prestwick and Lossiemouth as well as mountain rescue teams and a rest centre has been set up in 'Three Villages Hall' in Arrochar to help the walking wounded.

"The A83, at The Rest And Be Thankful, remains closed to allow the investigation into what caused the accident to get under way."