Pupils and driver escape bus fire

Three school pupils and a bus driver had a lucky escape today in Co Leitrim after the bus they were travelling on burst into …

Three school pupils and a bus driver had a lucky escape today in Co Leitrim after the bus they were travelling on burst into flames.

The fire broke out at around 8.15am as the vehicle made its way from Cootehall, Co Roscommon, to the Vocational School in Drumshambo.

After the driver smelt smoke shortly after leaving Cootehall, he stopped the bus and evacuated the pupils.

Firefighters were called, but by the time they arrived the bus had been gutted by the blaze. It is understood the children were treated for shock.

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A spokeswoman for Bus Éireann, who had contracted the bus, said investigations were under way.

"Obviously it is frightening for everybody involved but thankfully in this instance there were no injuries. The driver managed the situation very, very well - evacuated the bus very speedily," she said.

Gardaí and the contractor are investigating the fire.