School bus bursts into flames near Southend

All the pupils got off the bus safely after it caught fire Credit: Neil Sullivan

A school bus has burst into flames on the A127 at Rayleigh in Essex.

All the children and the driver managed to get off and no-one was hurt. Southend High School for Girls confirmed it was one of their buses.

Essex Fire Service say it happened between the Nevendon and Fairglen junctions.

Firefighters managed to extinguish the fire by 9am. The Southend bound carriageway was temporarily closed so firefighters could safely deal with the fire.

All the passengers were safely escorted to a local pub by police in order to continue their journey.