Motorway bus gutted by fire

The shell of the burned out coach

AN OLDHAM bus was destroyed after catching fire while driving through rush-hour traffic.

Part of the M60 was closed for around 15 minutes as firefighters tackled the blazing bus near junction 22 at Hollinwood at 5.50pm yesterday. Plumes of thick, black smoke were visible for miles.

There were no passengers on board the vehicle, owned by Oldham company Stotts Tours, and the driver escaped without injury.

He had noticed a burning smell as the vehicle climbed a slope and was horrified to spot flames coming out of the engine at the back of the vehicle.

He pulled on to the hard shoulder and firefighters from Hollins and Ashton were quickly on scene.