Double-decker bus bursts into flames in the middle of Lewisham

The top deck of the bus erupted into a fireball in Loampit Vale, yards from Lewisham station, shortly after 6pm.

Student Nicholas Vassiliades, 21, who was passing, told the Standard he saw a woman “screaming and running away” as the flames took hold.

He added: “There was a little bit of smoke coming out of the back of the bus, then all of a sudden it started to escalate, until the fire engulfed pretty much the whole back of the bus.

“You could hear the cracking of the glass and there were sparks flying off.

“It went up very quickly. The whole bus went black and basically started to melt.”

Bus burst into flames in Lewisham! pic.twitter.com/PNPU5wN8qE

— OSM Vision (@1OSMVision) March 25, 2016

The blaze sent a huge plume of thick black smoke into the sky.

Mr Vassiliades said he could not see anyone on the bus and the fire brigade confirmed there were no injuries.

Fire crews were called at 6.03pm and had the flames under control by about 6.20pm.

The road reopened about 30 minutes later, although TfL warned there would be continuing delays.