Four Britons killed in Saudi Arabia coach crash

A mother of six with 13 grandchildren is said to have been among four Britons killed in a coach crash while on an Islamic pilgrimage to Mecca in Saudi Arabia.

Another 12 British citizens were injured in the tragedy around 30 miles north of Mecca on Saturday.

Raj Begum Hussain, 70, from Blackburn, is understood to have died along with an elderly woman and her adult son, from Preston, Lancashire, and an elderly man, also from Preston.

The BBC said Mrs Hussain was travelling with her younger sister who survived but was injured, while a young child was also said to have been hurt.

Her family told the broadcaster: "She will be sorely missed by all family and friends. We would like to thank the whole community for their condolences and support at this difficult time."

The victims were among 18 people on board the coach which was travelling from Mecca to Medina as part of an Umra pilgrimage.

Family members of are planning to fly out to Saudi Arabia within the next 24 hours.

The Foreign Office (FCO) spokesman said it supporting the British families of the dead and injured.

Tour operators Hashim Travel said the coach the four Britons were on was hit by a fuel tanker which then caught fire and set the bus alight.

The Foreign Office says it is aware British Nationals have been killed in an accident in Saudi Arabia.

The travel firm said relatives of those who have died - who it said were a man, a woman and a mother and son - have been informed. It is also understood that a young child is among the injured.

The coach was travelling from Mecca to Medina as part of an Umra pilgrimage when the collision happened near the town of Al Khalas.

The Umrah pilgrimage is optional for Muslims and on a smaller scale than the annual Hajj pilgrimage, which Muslims are obliged to undertake.

Hashim Travel, based in Blackburn, specialises in Umrah and Hajj and has been providing travel packages for the past 15 years.

Gulfaraz Zaman, the director of the company, said there were 18 people in total on board.

He said: "There was a crash between the coach and a petrol tanker.

"There were 18 people on the coach which was travelling back from Mecca towards Medina.

"It took place on a main road. Four people have passed away, one from Blackburn and three from Preston.

"The woman from Blackburn was aged in her 60s."

Other passengers on the hired bus were from Accrington, Preston, Birmingham, Wolverhampton, Northampton and Blackburn.

A Foreign Office spokesperson said: "We are supporting the British families of those who have died and those injured following a serious road traffic accident near the town of Al Khalas, Saudi Arabia."