Bus passengers flee double-decker fireball

A bus driver evacuated passengers with minutes to spare before his double-decker exploded in flames.

Witnesses told today of hearing a loud explosion as the No 343 became a fireball at the bus stop outside St Catherine’s Church in Pepys Road, Brockley.

A second explosion blew off a bus tyre, spreading the blaze to a nearby parked car. Passengers, who all escaped unharmed, said the bus driver hurried them to safety after seeing a spark.

Firefighters took an hour to put out the blaze. The Rev Sheridan James said the blast shook her vicarage at about 8.20am on Saturday.

“I heard a loud bang, then there was another bang,” she said. “I looked out of my window and saw the bus consumed with flames. I quickly put on my clerical shirt and rushed out in case there were fatalities.”

London Fire Brigade said a mechanical failure could be to blame but investigations are continuing.