Traffic stopped as double decker bus bursts into flames on motorway

manchestereveningnews.co.uk:

A stretch of motorway has been closed this afternoon after a double decker bus burst into flames.

Traffic was stopped on a section of the M58, which connects Wigan to parts of Merseyside, after the vehicle was engulfed.

The motorway was blocked westbound between junction three for St Helens and junction one at Kirkby, shortly before 3pm today (February 15).

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Fire crews from Merseyside and Lancashire are dealing with the blaze.

No one is believed to have been injured in the fire, the Liverpool Echo reports.

A spokesperson for Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service (MFRS) told the Echo : "MFRS was called to a bus fire on the M58 shortly before 2.45pm today (Tuesday, February 15).

"At the height of the fire, three fire engines from MFRS attended as well as two appliances from Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service.

"On arrival crews found a double decker bus to be well alight on the eastbound carriageway, approximately one mile before the Kirkby junction.

"Firefighters wearing breathing apparatus are using high pressure hose reel jets to tackle the fire.

"The incident is ongoing but is in the process of being scaled down. There are not believed to be any injuries as a result of the incident.

"Merseyside Police and Highways are also in attendance."

Images from the scene show plumes of smoke billowing from the bus, which has been trashed by the fire.

One lane of the carriageway was reopened at around 4pm, with two lanes remaining closed while the fire was being dealt with.

In a post on Twitter, a spokesperson for National Highways wrote: "On the M58 south junction three - junction one (Kirkby) the traffic has now been released past the