Passengers and driver flee as bus bursts into flames

All passengers and the driver fled from a bus in Liverpool before it burst into flames and was destroyed.

Everyone onboard the single-decker Arriva service was able to escape before it was consumed by flames on Ormskirk Road in Aintree. There were no "apparent injuries", Merseyside Fire & Rescue service said.

Dramatic pictures showed thick clouds of black smoke billowing up from the body of the vehicle, with large orange flames emerging from the windows. Two fire engines were dispatched to the scene and firefighters managed to suppress the blaze by 12:15 GMT.

Arriva has been contacted for comment.

The road was closed heading towards Switch Island, but a lane has since reopened as fire crews put out the last of the flames.

A fire service spokesperson said: "The driver and all passengers were accounted for and had evacuated the bus before the fire took hold, with no apparent injuries.

"The incident is likely to cause significant traffic disruption for some time, please avoid the area."

An engineer from Arriva was on scene arranging for recovery of the bus.

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