Eye-witnesses have described the moment a bus burst into flames moments after the driver and passengers had been evacuated.
The drama happened at a bus stop on Ashley Road in Hale village at about 8.30am. Nobody was hurt.
Pictures and video from the scene showed how plumes of black smoke billowed from the engine of the parked Mercedes before it burst into flames.
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One shop worker described hearing a loud bang which made the building shudder.
Another eye witness said: “I was looking through the window and there was smoke billowing up. Next thing it was in flames. It was crazy. It went up really quickly. You don't expect to see something like that in the middle of Hale."
Angela Clawson was walking into work at Thornley Groves estate agent when she saw the fire. She said: "I saw a police go up the road and then I saw the bus on fire at the front. It rapidly spread from there and then the fire engine turned up and put it out. It was pretty frightening."
Another witness described how the bus driver escorted passengers to safety before the vehicle burst into flames.
Ashley Road through Hale village remained closed until the charred remains of the bus was loaded onto a truck and taken away shortly after 11am.
A spokesperson for Greater Manchester Fire & Rescue service said: "At around 8.30am on Thursday 5 January, firefighters were called out to a bus fire on Ashley Road in Hale.
"Two fire engines from Altrincham and Sale fire stations attended the scene and extinguished the fire using two hose reels and one breathing apparatus.
"Fire crews were on scene for approximately forty-five minutes and left after making the scene safe."
Greater Manchester Police said in a statement: ""At around 8:30am this morning (Thursday 5 December 2023), officers were called to reports of a bus on fire on Ashley Road in Hale.
"Emergency services attended the scene. All passengers left the vehicle safely and no injuries were reported."
A spokesperson for the bus operator, Arriva, said: "We can confirm one of our buses caught fire in Hale village this morning. The cause is not yet known.
"Our driver evacuated all passengers and himself safely and the fire service and police attended the scene and have dealt with the fire."
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