Prom reopened after coach catches fire

Police officers closed the road between Chapel Street and Rigby Road at around 11.25am after smoke began billowing from the Rothwells Skyliner coach, which was parked outside Gaiety’s karaoke bar.

Fire crews from Blackpool, South Shore and St Annes used one hosereel and a ventilation unit to extinguish the fire, and the road closure has been lifted.

Leah Calvert, who witnessed the fire while working nearby at the Three Wishes ice cream shop, said: “I heard a loud noise and when I looked out the bus was pulled pulled up on the side of the road, and then the engine set on fire. There was smoke going everywhere.

“There were still three passengers on board and one of them had to be helped off by the bus driver because she was an elderly lady and couldn’t walk.”

No passengers were on board when police arrived at the scene, a spokeswoman for Lancashire Police said.