SMOKE is billowing across the road in Kidlington as a bus has caught fire in Oxford Road at around 3.30pm today.

Thames Valley Police and the fire service are at the scene tackling the blaze.

The bus is an Oxford Bus Company bus and cars are being diverted away from the area. The company said the vehicle was not in service and that there were no passengers on board.

A spokesperson said: “We were advised at around 3.30pm today of smoke coming from the engine bay of one of our vehicles as it travelled towards Kidlington.

"Our driver acted swiftly to call the fire brigade who attended the scene promptly. 

"We will now conduct a full investigation into what took place, and our services are operating to a diversionary route. 

"We would like to apologise for the traffic congestion that has resulted from this incident."

A spokesperson for Sainsbury’s said the store and petrol station remained open, but cars were prevented from entering the main car park for 20 minutes while police cleared the scene.

James Dunne, 30, saw the fire as he was driving back through Kidlington to Yarnton. He said: “It was just off the roundabout heading in to Kidlington by the big Sainsbury’s. The bus was still on fire when I got there and I have never seen so much smoke, it was covering the road.”
 

Oxford Mail:

Bus blaze in Oxford Road, Kidlington, picture by Stuart Bryant