Bus engulfed in flames in Chester-le-Street: dramatic pictures

A bus burst into flames in a residential street in County Durham after the driver dropped off his last passenger.

Billy Atkinson noticed the Go North East bus had remained at the stopoutside his house in Chester Le Street, County Durham, longer than usual at 11pm on Thursday.

The 56-year-old watched out of his upstairs window as smoke appeared and the bus became engulfed in flames.

Dad-of-one Billy, a supermarket worker who lives on The Avenue, said: "Thebus usually comes at 11pm and I thought it was there a bit too long.

"We are used to the bus coming, dropping someone off and then going.

"The driver had got off the bus and walked away from the bus - he must have spotted something on the bus.

"The bus was engulfed in flames in less than two minutes.

"I told my wife and my daughter to get out of the house as there was afire.

"The fire service and the police came within five minutes.

"Luckily no one was hurt."

County Durham & Darlington Fire & Rescue Service sent three fire enginesto the scene to tackle the blaze.

A spokesperson said they were called by Tyne and Wear Fire and RescueService at 23.28pm and the fire had been put out 50 minutes later.

The heat of the fire also caused damage to cars in the area.