A DRIVER of a bus full of North-East tourists has been hailed a hero after surviving a head-on smash.

The 61-year-old driver, from Durham, had to be cut free from his coach after it collided with a car on the A9 in Scotland.

Both his wrists were snapped in the crash but he prevented the coach tipping and brought it to safety.

The accident happened as 39 holidaymakers were being taken on a weekend break to Scotland with Hull-based National Holidays.

The single-decker coach was being driven north towards Pitlochry when a silver Peugeot hit it head-on.

The Peugeot's driver, Julia Jarvis, a 52-year-old nurse, from Crieff, in Scotland, died at the scene.

The incident happened shortly before 3pm on Friday, June 10, nearly Dowally, 20 miles north of Perth.

Several bus passengers suffered cuts and bruises and the coach was extensively damaged.

Andrew MacDonald, from National Holidays, said: "The driver did remarkably well to keep the coach steady and get it to the side of the road in one piece.

"There was a general consensus among the passengers that he had done a great job and they organised a collection and card for him."

The driver, who has worked for National Holidays since 2005, was airlifted to Ninewells hospital, in Dundee, where he remains.

Coach passengers waited on the roadside until a replacement vehicle arrived.

The A9 Perth to Inverness road remained closed for police investigations until 11.30pm.

The holidaymakers were taken to the luxury Strathpeffer Hotel, in the Highlands.

Mr MacDonald, who visited the tourists at the hotel, said: "Passengers were traumatised after the crash on Friday but by Saturday teatime they had picked up and managed to enjoy the rest of their holiday."