School bus burns out after going up in flames on B6278 near Barnard Castle

Dramatic footage captured the moment a school bus became engulfed in flames on the morning run

Pupils had to evacuate their school bus after the vehicle caught fire on the morning run in County Durham.

Emergency services were called to reports of the fire on the bus, carrying Teesdale School and Sixth Form students, at around 8.30am on Tuesday (18 June) on the B6278 between Barnard Castle and Egglestone.

Durham Constabulary said all passengers got off the bus and there were no injuries. The force confirmed on Wednesday that there was no criminal investigation.

An image released by County Durham and Darlington Fire and Rescue Service shows the extent of the damage to the bus, which was entirely burnt out.

Simon Henderson, deputy head of Teesdale School, said: "Everyone was really quite taken aback by events but the main thing is that all our students are safe and sound."

He also praised the students as a "credit to the school", adding: "We were so proud of how calm they were, how unselfish they were and how they helped each other and made sure that everyobdy was off that bus safely."

A spokesperson for Durham Constabulary said: "Police were alerted by the fire service at 8.35am [on Tuesday] to a school bus on fire on the B6278 between Barnard Castle and Egglestone.

"Thankfully all passengers managed to get off the bus safely and nobody was injured."

The road was expected to remain closed overnight for repairs.

Mark Hodgson, director of Hodgsons Coach Operators Ltd, said: "I would like to express my gratitude to the students on board for their quick actions in following the evacuation instructions.

"We would also like to pass our thanks to County Durham and Darlington Fire and Rescue Service, along with Durham Constabulary, for their efforts at the scene and Teesdale School & Sixth Form for their support offered to students on their arrival at school on the replacement coach."

A spokesperson for County Durham and Darlington Fire and Rescue Service said: "We were called at 8.29am to reports of a bus fire on the B6278 near Barnard Castle.

"Crews from Barnard Castle and Middleton-in-Teesdale attended and used four breathing apparatus and three hose reels to tackle the fire, before leaving the scene at 9.59am."

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