A DOUBLE decker bus was engulfed in flames in Quarry Bank this morning (Thursday), causing traffic chaos.

Motorists were urged to find alternative routes as High Street was blocked off while firefighters tackled the blaze on the 141 service at 7.06am.

The driver and seven passengers had evacuated the vehicle before fire crews arrived.

Twenty per cent of the vehicle was destroyed during the fire, which caused five litres of diesel to leak onto the road.

Jack Kelly, head of external communications at National Express, said: "We can confirm that an incident involving one of our vehicles took place in Quarry Bank this morning.

"Nobody was hurt during the incident and we are working hard to establish the cause."