A BUS has been badly damaged by a fire while on service in Basildon.

Firefighters were called to the blaze at Great Knightleys at 7.38am on Friday (7 October).

On arrival, crews reported that the front of a hybrid bus was on fire.

Three crews worked with the bus management company and engineers to extinguish the fire by 8.52am.

The cause of the fire was accidental.