A STUNNED passenger has described his horror after the bus he was travelling on went up in flames.
Marcin Chaber was travelling on Stagecoachs number 68 bus when plumes of smoke began pouring from the back as it drove along Preston New Road into Freckleton.
Mr Chaber, who was travelling from his home in Preston to work at Lythams Clifton Arms Hotel, said: It all burned and everybody had to get off.
There were about 20 people on the bus at the time. It was scary for everyone on board, there was a lot of black smoke.
The fire broke out at around 11.45am yesterday as the bus headed towards Freckleton from Preston.
One passenger casualty had to be treated for smoke inhalation following the blaze, which completely gutted the double-decker bus.
Up to 25 passengers, including an 18-month-old, were evacuated.
Fire crews from St Annes raced to the scene and police closed the busy road as firefighters used eight sets of breathing apparatus, a hose reel, jet and 80 litres of foam to bring the blaze under control.
Crew manager Jamie Plant, of Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service, said: The bus was well-alight on arrival.
Passengers from the bus waited at the roadside for around an hour before a replacement bus came to rescue them.
Stagecoach bosses spent the afternoon at the scene assessing the damage to their vehicle.
From the blackpool Gazette