A coach which plunged down a steep embankment killing one man and critically injuring three others has been recovered.

The vehicle, from Peterborough, Cambridgeshire, was travelling from Alton Towers theme park towards Alton village, along Station Road, when it crashed shortly before 6pm on Monday night.

It collided with two stationary vehicles and smashed through a wall before plunging ten to 15 feet down an embankment, Staffordshire Police said. It eventually came to a stop on its side, in a resident's garden.

Residents described hearing a crash like a thunder clap, before screams and shouts.

The coach was carrying passengers from Lithuania, South Africa and Poland. It is thought they were farm workers who had spent the day at Alton Towers.

A 26-year-old from Poland was killed in the incident while 21 people were taken to local hospitals in Stoke-on-Trent, Stafford, Burton and Selly Oak, Birmingham, and dozens more sustained minor injuries.

Two of the injured were airlifted to hospital and paramedics treated "walking wounded" at the medical centre at Alton Towers.

After the coach was recovered, Chief Inspector John Maddox said: "I wish to thank the residents and the local community for their patience and assistance during this operation, and for their direct support for passengers from the bus.

"Also, their great support to members of the emergency services at the scene over the last 24 hours."

© Independent Television News Limited 2008. All rights reserved.