This was the dramatic scene as the No 26 bus erupted in flames in a Kent village - and hastened its final journey to the scrapyard.

The driver and passenger escaped before the vehicle was engulfed in flames. The Arriva single decker, which was due to be scrapped in a couple of months, was travelling from Marden to Goudhurst at the time.

Richard Lewis, Arriva's marketing manager, said the driver acted quickly when he saw smoke coming from the back of the bus and got his one passenger and himself to safety.

Smoke could be seen from miles around as fire crews fought the flames. But they were unable to stop the vehicle being badly damaged. Arriva was investigaitng the cause into Monday's fire.