An investigation has been launched after a double decker bus collided with a bridge in Rochdale.
Emergency services were called to the crash on Station Road just after 2pm on Wednesday (April 29).
Nine passengers on board the bus were injured in the incident.
Five of them were taken to hospital, including one who had a significant leg injury.
The crash involved a 471 Diamond Bus, which collided with a low bridge.
The bus operator said they were 'shocked by the incident' and have launched an investigation to establish what happened.
They are assisting police with their enquiries, but no arrests have been made.
Pictures taken at the scene of the crash show the double-decker bus with its roof completely ripped off.
Carl Haslam, a station manager from the Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue service, said it 'could have been a lot worse'.
In a tweet, he said: "This could have been a lot worse.
"Crews from Manchester Fire, Rochdale Fire and technical response assisted NWAS with 10 casualties.
"Good work by all."
A spokesperson from the North West Ambulance Service said: "We were called at 14:11 today to an incident on Station Road in Rochdale with reports of a bus colliding with a bridge.
"Nine people were assessed on scene and five patients were taken to hospital, one of which has a significant leg injury."
A GMP spokesperson said: "Police were called shortly after 2.10pm today (Wednesday 29 April 2020) to reports of a road traffic collision involving a bus and a bridge on Station Road in Rochdale.
"Nine passengers on board the bus have been injured and are receiving treatment from emergency services.
"Richard Street and Station Street have been temporarily closed while the scene remains in place.
"No arrests have been made and enquiries are ongoing."
A spokesperson for Diamond Bus said: "Diamond Bus can confirm one of our vehicles operating service 471 between Bolton and Rochdale has been involved in an incident with a bridge, which has resulted in a number of passengers sustaining injuries.
"We’ve immediately launched a full internal investigation to establish the circumstances that has led to this collision and are assisting Greater Manchester police with their enquiries.
"Everyone at Diamond Bus North West is shocked by this incident and our thoughts are with the injured passengers.
"All injured parties have been taken to hospital but we have no updates as yet."
