A BUS driver and his passengers escaped unhurt when fire ripped through the vehicle.
The driver managed to park and safely get the seven passengers off the Arriva service 69 from Stockton to Bishop Auckland before the blaze took hold at about 2pm on Tuesday as it travelled through Sedgefield, County Durham. Firefighters tackled the blaze, and a stretch of Front Street was closed for an hour as thick smoke drifted through the village.
An investigation into the cause of the fire has been launched, but there are no suspicious circumstances.
Iain McInroy, of Arriva North East, said: "When the driver became aware of the fire, he safely evacuated the passengers.
"The source of the fire is being investigated. Emergency services quickly attended the scene and safely dealt with the situation."
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereComments are closed on this article