SCHOOL BUS BLAZE PROBE
School children were evacuated from a bus after it caught fire.
The blaze was found at the back of the coach, operated by E& M Horsburgh, which was taking pupils to West Calder High School on Monday morning.
The driver spotted smoke and pulled over while youngsters were ushered off.
Emergency crews arrived and the fire gutted the back of the bus.
The company provides transport for schoolchildren under a contract with West Lothian Council, which is now investigating the cause of the blaze.
A spokesperson for E&M Horsburgh said it is also trying to determine what happened.
They continued: “We can confirm that one of our vehicles was unfortunately involved in a fire incident.
“There were no passenger injuries as a result of this fire.
“The cause of the fire is now under investigation. E&M Horsburgh has been established since 1986 and holds an exemplary safety record.”
A petition has now been launched by parents to have Horsburgh stripped
of their school bus contract.
The Courier reported in December that parents were unhappy at the condition of some buses, saying they were freezing, had windows missing and there was mould on seats.
A spokesperson for West Lothian Council said: “We understand from the bus operator that the bus driver noticed smoke from the rear of the vehicle and pulled over as a precaution, allowing the pupils to depart the bus unharmed.
“Pupils were picked up shortly afterwards by another bus and taken to school.
“We’ve asked the bus operator to provide us with further details.
“Council officers visited the site and will work with the operator to progress with an investigation.”