Bus roof ripped off in Bournemouth railway bridge crash

Police are investigating after a bus roof was ripped off while going under a railway bridge in Bournemouth.

The bus was carrying language students from Thailand, and many were on the top deck.

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Two 13-year-old girls suffered minor injuries when the roof was sliced off in the incident at Clingan Road, reports the BBC.

It is thought the bus continued for around 30 metres without a roof before coming to a halt outside a lower school.

One onlooker wrote on Twitter: "No through road at Cranleigh Rd for a while. Like a scene out of Live and Let Die. Bus loses roof!"

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Cavendish school of English said the bus driver had been suspended pending an investigation.

Speaking to the Daily Echo, Cavendish School's Operations Manager, Nathan Santangelo-Barber, added: "We are devastated here. We have no idea why the driver attempted to drive under that bridge.

"The bridge is clearly marked and there are also warnings in the cab of the bus.

"Our first priority is the welfare of the children who are now all back at school and were happy to go back in class right away."

The bus is operated by the school's sister company, Cavendish Liner, and was collecting children from host families to allow them to be chaperoned to school.

Sgt Ben Pope told the BBC: "The students were very lucky. I'd like to thank the local school for their assistance in looking after the students in their hall that were aboard the bus so they could be triaged by the ambulance service.

"The matter will be fully investigated."