A TEENAGE soldier is fighting for his life today after his car was involved in a head-on smash with a coach driven by an Ipswich man.Police described the 16-year-old, who is serving with the 16th Tank Regiment Transporter Squadron of the 7th Transport Regiment Royal Logistic Corps in Germany, as being in a 'critical condition'.

A TEENAGE soldier is fighting for his life today after his car was involved in a head-on smash with a coach driven by an Ipswich man.

Police described the 16-year-old, who is serving with the 16th Tank Regiment Transporter Squadron of the 7th Transport Regiment Royal Logistic Corps in Germany, as being in a 'critical condition'.

The crash happened at 7.15pm yesterday on the B1025 road outside the Peldon Rose public house on the road between Mersea and Colchester.

A Peugeot 206 driven by the teenager was heading towards the garrison town when it collided with the single-decker bus owned by King's Coaches of Stanway, Essex.

The bus, which was returning to Mersea island from a day trip to London, contained an elderly couple, three representatives from a local travel agent and the driver.

No one on the bus was injured although the 55-year-old Ipswich man at the wheel of the coach was reported to be stunned by the collision.

The driver, who has worked for the company for 10-15 years, is recovering at home today.

Andrew Cousins, owner of King's Coaches, said: "The driver was a bit shaken up but other than that was not hurt. There was nowhere for him to go as there was a ditch by the side of the road.

"He will have a couple of days off now and I will be speaking to him later on."

The teenage soldier, who is based at Colchester Garrison, had to be cut free from the wreckage of his car.

He was airlifted to Colchester General Hospital for treatment to the serious head injuries he sustained in the crash.

His front-seat passenger, a 30-year-old from the Germany-based 26th Armoured Engineers Squadron of the 32nd Engineer Regiment, suffered minor injuries. He was also taken to the Colchester General for treatment.

Essex Police were forced to close the road for nearly five hours while firefighters freed the teenage soldier who was trapped in his car. The road was reopened just after midnight.

Officers are now appealing for any further witnesses to the incident to come forward.

Anyone with information about the crash should contact Stanway traffic police on 01206 762512.