Bus evacuated in blaze drama

DRAMATIC photos showed the moment a bus caught on fire.

Emergency services were called to Longsight Road in Ramsbottom at around 3pm yesterday after a bus became set alight. It is currently unknown what caused the incident, which saw two fire engines attend the scene.

Residents reported seeing the driver and one passenger stood on the road after the 472 Diamond Bus pulled over. It is believed that nobody was injured.

Darren Fazackerley was on the bus heading into Bury for bank holiday drinks with his wife when it stopped on Longsight Road.

“A couple of lads who were getting on told the bus driver the bus was on fire at the front and they thought it was the engine,” he said. “The bus driver got off to have a look and dashed back on and told everyone to get off quickly. It was a bit surreal as when we got off we could see the flames under the bonnet of the bus.

“Everyone got off the bus quickly thanks to the driver and most got on another bus, by which time the flames were going up the windscreen.

“Thankfully everyone was fine, just in a bit of shock as we thought the young lads getting on the bus were just joking.”

A fire service spokesperson said: “The fire involved a bus which was well alight when fire crews arrived at the scene. Firefighters wearing breathing apparatus used two hose reels to extinguish the fire and were in attendance for around one hour.”

A spokesperson for Diamond Bus North West said: “We are aware of the incident and we will be investigating in conjunction with the fire brigade and our own internal procedures.”