PASSENGERS on a North-East bus narrowly escaped injury when a model plane with a 6ft wing span crashed through its windscreen.

People on the double-decker dived for cover when the model aircraft swooped towards the bus.

As the bus reached 50mph, the plane smashed through its window, narrowly missing the driver.

The driver brought the bus to a stop. He and his passengers were uninjured.

An enthusiast had been flying the remote control 10lb model in nearby fields when he lost control of it.

The plane then dived towards the 220 Go North-East bus, which was on its way to Durham, from Sunderland.

The windscreen was shattered, causing £250 worth of damage, and the driver was left suffering from shock.

Police interviewed the model owner, but said they were treating the incident as an accident.