Community leader describes the shocking moment a bus collided with building as a 'once in a decade' event

Shocked residents watched in horror as a bus carrying commuters to work and school crashed into the side of Furness Dental Laboratory during rush hour traffic.

The double-decker ran into the side of the building while trying to navigate the corner of Allison Street and Greengate Street shortly before 9am.

Bosses at Stagecoach, the bus' operator, said the vehicle had taken a different route than normal due to road closures as a result of damage wrought by the high winds of Storm Ali on Wednesday.

As it collided with the front of the building an upstairs window was smashed. No passengers or pedestrians were injured.

Cllr Dave Pidduck, the leader of Barrow Council, said: “This is quite shocking and something out of the ordinary.

“It is something that only happens once a decade in Barrow.

“I am sure the people on the bus were shocked but I am very thankful no one was hurt.”

Sarah Bell, administrator at the dental practice, said the bus had damaged the plastic window fascia on front of the practice and left some broken glass on pavement outside.

He said: “The crash happened before we all came in.

“It has caused some damage to the fascia of the building, which is very noticeable from the outside.

“Stagecoach has told us they insurers are going to come down next week and assess the damage.”

A Stagecoach spokeswoman confirmed the bus had crashed after taking an alternative route because of road closures and said the company would investigate further.

The spokeswoman said: “Following a road closure caused by the high winds brought about by Storm Ali on Wednesday a road closure was put in place resulting in the need for one of our vehicles to turn to take an alternative route.

“While turning a minor collision occurred.

“No passengers were injured.

“Safety is our highest priority and we are investigating the incident.”

Greengate School, based down the street from where the crash took place said some pupils were delayed arriving for school but said there was “minimal disruption”.

A woman who lives in nearby Greengate Street said: “We saw all the traffic stopped and the tail end of the bus sticking out of the junction, which was strange.

“It was something a bit different to tell my mother about.”

A fellow Greengate Street resident said: “The traffic was queued up and I saw the bus stuck there.

“It looks like it has just damaged the top of plastic on the shop front.”

BAE worker Jamie Wilson said on Facebook: “It was obvious the bus wasn’t going to fit down there and it made us late for school.”

Ben Shenton said: “The street is not very wide.”