Massive bus fire closes road in Hale

Dramatic footage captured today shows a bus engulfed in flames during rush hour this morning (5 Janaury). The bus caught fire at about 8.30am on Ashley Road in Hale, near Altrincham, causing the busy road to close.

Video from the scene shows the single-decker blue bus billowing smoke and flames as firefighters tackled the blaze. Greater Manchester Police have confirmed that no one was injured during the incident and two fire crews had put the blaze out. David Golding was returning from the morning school run when he captured the shocking clip. He said: “Ashley Road in Hale had just been cordoned off by the police when I was coming back. The raging fire had engulfed the bus. The black smoke from the fire swamped the village and was blowing across the road over the neighbouring shops.

“Other eyewitnesses told me that no one had been hurt. The fire brigade were so speedy in extinguishing the fire. Just like the doctors and nurses in the NHS, the police and Ambulance crews, the fire service gives so much to our communities. My gratitude is to all of them.”

Passengers all left the Arriva service safely. A company spokesman said the cause had not yet been confirmed.