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Wimbledon: Electric double-decker bus catches fire during rush hour

Watch: Electric double-decker bus bursts into flames in London

An electric double-decker bus caught fire during the morning rush hour in south-west London.

Emergency services were called to Wimbledon Hill Road/Alwyne Road in Wimbledon shortly after 07:20 GMT.

Transport for London (TfL) said the bus was quickly evacuated, and the Met Police said no injuries were reported. The force declared a critical incident.

Max Pashley, a local resident, told City A.M.: "We heard a huge bang. We were terrified."

Tom Cunnington, TfL's head of bus business development, said: "Safety is our top priority and we are working with the operator, London General, and the bus manufacturer, Switch, to investigate what happened."

X/RodCam24 View of a street in Wimbledon filled with smoke and the glow of flames behind a busX/RodCam24
The Met declared a critical incident following the blaze

Road closures and cordons are in place and are expected to be for some time.

A Met Police spokesperson said: "We thank the local community for their patience and co-operation as emergency services work at the scene."

People have been advised to avoid the area.

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