Traffic on a major Scottish road has ground to a halt after a bus caught fire during rush hour.
Emergency services were scrambled to the A90 at Inchture, between Dundee and Perth, at around 8.20am on Thursday.
The road has been closed in both directions because of smoke billowing across the carriageway, affecting visibility.
Videos and pictures show the Stagecoach double decker on fire at the side of the road.
It is understood the bus was being run under a council contract to transport school children from the Carse of Gowrie region of Perthshire to Perth High in rush hour traffic.
Councillor Angus Forbes, from the Carse of Gowrie ward, confirmed that the kids had been safely and quickly evacuated by the quick-thinking driver and were being cared for at a nearby driving range.
He said: "Everyone is okay. Following the incident everyone was moved to the verge at the roadside but now they're being sheltered at the golf driving range.
"Stagecoach have a Megabus in the area that they're going to use to pick the kids up when the road is clear.
"The police have been taking statements from the kids and while incidents like this are rare they have said there will be a follow-up investigation.
"The main thing is that everyone is safe and the driver seems to have responded quickly.
"It's a really difficult situation but it could have been a hell of a lot worse."
Eyewitness Kelly Marie Dickie said: "Myself and my partner were travelling from Perth to Dundee and we drove past the scene with all the school kids standing outside the bus, awaiting police and fire service assistance.
"From what I had seen everyone was off safe and well, thank goodness - a lot of shaken up kids standing at side of the road.
"That will be a day they never forget."
A spokesperson for Stagecoach East Scotland said: "We can confirm one of our vehicles operating a contract on behalf of Perth and Kinross Council has been involved in an incident on the A90 this morning.
"There are no reported injuries and all passengers were safely evacuated from the vehicle. Passengers are being transferred to an alternative service to get to their destination.
"Safety is our number one priority and we will be assisting the investigation into the circumstances involved."
Perth and Kinross Council was contacted for comment.
Road network monitors Traffic Scotland said on Twitter: "The #A90 at Inchture is currently closed in BOTH directions due to a bus fire.
"Traffic is being held and stationary on approach with smoke blowing across the carriageway.
"Police and Fire crews are in attendance."
The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service said: "We are currently in attendance at a fire on the A90 at Inchture, having received a call at 8.19am.
"We have mobilised three appliances to this incident.
"The main fire has been extinguished and we are in the process of dampening down the vehicle."
A Police Scotland spokesperson said: “Officers received report of a bus on fire on the A90 near Errol between Dundee and Perth around 9.50am on Thursday, 24 March, 2022.
“The fire was extinguished by the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service and no-one was injured. One lane remains closed on the A90 westbound.”
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