A QUICK-THINKING driver put out a fire on his passenger-laden bus yesterday when the rear of the vehicle burst into flames.

The bus caught light in Best Street, Chatham, and fumes and smoke filled the inside, reaching 30 alarmed passengers.

The driver stopped the vehicle, leapt out and put out the blaze with an extinguisher.

Medway Fire Station sub-officer Jason Bardell said: "We would like to praise the driver for his actions. The fire was out by the time we got there and had he not moved as fast as he did the fire could have spread along the back.

"The passengers could have also been affected by smoke inhalation. As it was nobody was harmed."'

The drama happened when faulty wiring on the 29-seater bus caused a rear lights cluster to catch fire. The passengers were immediately transferred to another bus, which had been nearby at the time.