Fourteen children hospitalised in North Queensland

Fourteen children have been hospitalised in North Queensland with police investigating whether candy they ate on a bus could be to blame.

The children became ill at Bluewater State School, about 30 minutes north of Townsville, and were treated by Queensland Ambulance Service paramedics about 10.10am.

Six of the children were taken to Townsville University Hospital with nausea, abdominal pain and light-headedness 10 minutes after arriving at school.

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A further eight students were transported later as a precaution.

All are in a stable condition.

Queensland Police are investigating the incident and are treating the bus as a crime scene.

"That's currently being investigated at the moment, so the circumstances surrounding how the children became unwell is forming part of our investigation," Jonathan Searle from Queensland Police said.

"Police are assisting the Department of Education and Queensland Health."

There were 22 Blue Water State School students on the bus in total.

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"Like all Queensland state schools, Bluewater State School holds the safety of students and staff as its highest priority," the Department of Education said in a statement.

"The department is aware of an incident that occurred today at Bluewater State School which required the assistance of emergency services."

"School staff acted quickly to attend to the students while the Queensland Ambulance.

"Service and parents were contacted. A number of students were transported to hospital."

Paramedics stayed at the school and monitored other students.

The school released a statement telling students and parents that counselling services will be made available to the impacted families.

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