Bus passengers have told of their terror after a tree trunk smashed through a window of a packed double decker.

Witnesses say it was lucky no one was killed after the fallen tree landed on the back seats of the 6X service from Canterbury to Herne Bay.

The windscreen of the Stagecoach bus was also completely shattered, with the driver applauded by passengers for managing to keep the vehicle on the road.

Ellis Holt was on the top deck of the bus with girlfriend Louise Park at the time of the accident, which happened about 100 yards past the Sturry level crossing.

“We just heard people gasping and then this big smash at the front end,” he said.

“The bus swerved a bit and then it stopped. We could hear a lot of noise downstairs so went to have a look.

“The whole front of the bus was completely smashed and there was a tree hanging out of the back window. It was huge.

"If anyone had been sitting in those seats they would have been killed..." - passenger Ellis Holt

“If anyone had been sitting in those seats they would have been killed, without a doubt.

“I’m not sure how the windscreen got smashed, but the driver did an amazing job just to keep the bus on the road.

“He was straight on his phone afterwards and checking to see if everyone was all right.”

Ellis and Louise, both 21, had been travelling home from work to Herne Bay.

Ellis said: “When we got on the bus the whole bottom deck was packed and so was the top.

“A lot of people downstairs got off near Asda in Sturry Road, which is so lucky.

“Anyone on those back seats would not have lived. It’s a miracle no one was hurt.

“Just looking at the tree and thinking what could have happened really shook us up.”

The bus was recovered after the accident, which happened at about 6.40pm.