DARLINGTON’S MP Jenny Chapman has reacted to yesterday's fatal bus crash.

Ms Chapman spoke out to offer her condolences to the bereaved family of a woman who died after an Arriva bus crashed into the Halifax bank on Northgate.

She also expressed concern for others injured during the incident before addressing issues around bus routes in the area.

Ms Chapman said: “Firstly, we need to focus our thoughts on the family of the lady who lost her life and the injured pedestrians.

“We need to understand fully what has happened here and if changes need to be made, then they should be actioned quickly.

“It is important that we do not jump to conclusions and await the outcome of any investigation – nobody knows what happened and we cannot speculate.

“However, I think that our aim should always be to keep pedestrians and traffic as far apart from each other as is possible.

“There are going to be problems when we have a bus route like that near a natural point for pedestrians to get between Marks and Spencer and the Cornmill Centre.

“We don’t know what happened in this instance but we need to look closely at this as we can’t just write it off as a coincidence.

“Everyone will want to understand what has happened here and do everything possible to prevent future accidents in this or any other location in Darlington town centre.

“This incident has been absolutely horrendous – it could have been any one of us.

“To go out to do some shopping and to never come home again is horrific and I cannot imagine how devastated this lady’s family must be.”