A BUS has been left badly damaged after it was engulfed in flames at a Redditch school.

Two crews attended the blaze at Tudor Grange Academy in Woodrow Drive at 3.42pm (today) Wednesday, November 18.

The fire, on a Diamond bus, was put out by firefighters was extinguished using two breathing apparatus and two hose reel jets.

No pupils were on the bus at the time of the fire and no one was reported to have been injured.

Principal Rose Rees said: “The bus had just arrived in the school grounds and so no students were on board.

"Staff made sure everyone was safe and well clear of the bus and the flames. 

"Students were moved immediately as, although the sight was quite spectacular, and it was only natural they would want to see what was happening, there was a very real danger because of all the fuel on the bus."

She added that staff had managed the situation extremely well, and that the fire service, and the bus operator Diamond, had been called immediately.

Eyewitness Luke Speller, who took the images, said: "It was pretty bad as I did not know if anyone was inside."

David Squire, operations director for Diamond Buses in Redditch, said: "I can confirm that a Diamond Bus sustained an engine compartment fire whilst running empty to Tudor Grange School this afternoon. 

"The driver was alerted by a motorist that what appeared to be sparks were under the engine. He moved the bus to the nearest safe location in order to inspect it which was the entrance to the school, but not into the school, he called the fire brigade who attended the scene and extinguished the fire.

"The driver was not injured and no other people were on the bus at that time. We take the safety of our customers seriously and are investigating the cause of the incident with colleagues from the fire service."

"A replacement bus was sent to the school to operate the journey but the school had already made arrangements for the students to get home and we are grateful for their assistance."

After the fire, crews worked at damp down the vehicle.