Three hurt in bus shelter collapse

Three people were taken to hospital after a bus crashed into a shelter in Stafford town centre today.

The bus is thought to have clipped the shelter at the stop outside the Sainsburys store in Stafford, which then collapsed onto several passengers.

The incident happened just before 10.30am and three ambulances rushed to the scene, as people in the immediate vicinity offered first aid.

The three casualties were taken by ambulance to Stafford General Hospital but were not thought to have suffered serious injuries.

The shelter is one of a number on Chell Road which is one of the busiest stops in town. A spokesperson for West Midlands Ambulance Service said: "Three patients suffered minor injuries and were all taken to Staffordshire General Hospital with cuts and bruises."

One regular bus user, who did not wish to be named, said: "It's a very busy stop down there and it's lucky there were no more injuries. I dread to think what might have happened if it had been in the rush hour."

The cause of the accident is not yet known but an inquiry is being launched. It is not yet known which bus company was involved.