Where's the flaming bus?

9:59am Friday 7th March 2008

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A bus burst into flames in the centre of Twickenham on Wednesday.

Firefighters were alerted to a blaze on the 490 service in York Street at 8.39pm.

The driver stopped the bus as soon as he realised something was wrong and evacuated the passengers.

A spokesperson for Travel London, which operates the service from the Fulwell Bus Depot, said: "He (the driver) dealt with it extremely well. He noticed a strange smell, spoke with engineers and drove the bus further down the road to the garage without passengers when the smoke appeared."

The fire was caught on camera by passing cyclist Rob Cass, of Malvern Road, Hampton. He said: "Within 30 seconds the billowing smoke at the front of the bus became a full-on fire. I thought it might blow up."

According to Mr Cass he heard a man shouting at the bus driver when he arrived saying: "I told you there was smoke."

Firefighters had the situation under control by 8.53pm and the cause of the blaze is being looked into by a fire investigation unit.

It is thought the incident occured through an electrical fault with the engine. The driver was taken to West Middlesex Hospital and treated for smoke inhalation but was later sent home.

Transport for London said there would be a full investigation.