FIREFIGHTERS have responded to calls in Thornbury after a bus burst into flames near the centre of the town.

The vehicle owned by Severnside Transport Ltd had been left locked and empty by the bus stop next to Aldi at the time of the incident, as the driver had gone into the supermarket to buy lunch.

But only minutes later the vehicle was alight, with flames and smoke erupting from the vehicle.

It is currently believed that the fire was due to an electrical malfunction.

Three crews from Thornbury, Avonmouth and Southmead were called to the scene after receiving reports at 12.06 of the incident, with police on hand to manage traffic.

One eyewitness Leigh Ivett told the Gazette she phoned emergency services after she and a colleague bravely attempted to intervene in case anyone was trapped inside.

She said: “We were just walking up the road when we saw a lot of smoke. As we got closer we saw flames flooding out of the front.

“We ran over to the bus and began banging on the windows and shouting in case anyone was inside, but thankfully there wasn’t.”

After firefighters arrived at the scene, they were able to put out the flames using a high pressure hose, before checking the vehicle to make sure it was safe.

Avon Fire and Rescue Service station manager Justin Hobbs, who attended the scene, said: “From our initial evaluation, it appears to be an accidental mechanical failure.”

Thornbury police, who also attended the scene said that they are not currently treating the incident as suspicious.