Victoria NichollsThe headteacher of the youngsters who were hit by a car while on a school walkabout has spoken of how pupils have coped after their first day back in the classroom.Victoria Nicholls

The headteacher of the youngsters who were hit by a car while on a school walkabout has spoken of how pupils have coped after their first day back in the classroom.

Mike Croft, headteacher at Worlingham Middle School, said that 18 out of 26 pupils from the Year Five class returned to school today, with three youngsters still in hospital following the incident on Friday.

Eight children and a man were injured when a car ploughed into them on Lowestoft Road in Worlingham, near Beccles, shortly after lunchtime, while the class was on a supervised walk.

Three counsellors were drafted in to the school yesterday and today to help support the pupils, and any friends and family who arrived on the scene. Mr Croft sent a letter to parents yesterday inviting them to use the service and advising them what to look out for in people suffering from the shock.

Mr Croft added: "We held a special assembly as there were a lot of children who didn't know exactly what happened. We wanted to get them to understand what had happened to the children, so that they know. The reaction is of shock and concern for people. There are people who need a bit of kindness shown to them."

A spokesman for Suffolk police confirmed that three girls remained in hospital at the James Paget University Hospital in Gorleston and the Norfolk & Norwich University Hospital.

One of the girls suffered a double fracture to her ankle and a broken collar bone, another has two broken legs and a broken collar bone and the third has facial injuries and a stomach injury.

The spokesman said that all three are in a serious but stable condition and none are believed to have injuries that are life-threatening.