A BOY had to duck for his life as the double-decker bus he was travelling in crashed into a railway bridge (Barnaby Chesterman writes).

The boy was one of five passengers travelling on the top deck of the 14-foot tall Stagecoach East Kent bus as its roof was stripped off.

It collided with the 11-foot bridge in Mill Way, Sittingbourne, just before 5pm yesterday. Teenagers standing by the Ivy Leaf pub in Milton Road said they saw a boy dive for cover.

One witness said: "He saw the bridge coming and just ducked and then afterwards we saw him coming down the stairs. He was very lucky."

Despite half the roof being ripped from the bus, none of the five top-deck passengers was seriously injured.

PC Jason Hedges, who is investigating the collision, said: ""Our initial enquiries have revealed there were between 20 and 30 passengers on the bus, many of whom left the scene before we had a chance to take their details."

A police spokesperson said it was reported to them that someone on the top deck of the bus shouted "duck" just before it hit the bridge. But no more details could be given due to the ongoing investigation.

Police officers arrived on the scene quickly and set about managing the traffic chaos caused by the crash.

It also exacerbated long delays on trains in the area which were already suffering from a derailment at Faversham and a points failure at Sittingbourne.

Roads were closed at Mill Way, Milton Road, Eurolink and Crown Quay Lane while a recovery operation was undertaken.

Stagecoach East Kent managing director Paul Southgate said the company was undertaking an internal investigation. He said: "Our investigation into this incident started at the scene of the accident and is continuing today.

"It is clearly evident that something went amiss with that service last night and obviously we are very concerned when something like this happens that affects the safety of our passengers and other road users.

"That particular journey is always operated by a double-decker bus as there are many children who use it. As it hit a low bridge it would appear that the bus was not on the correct route."

Mr Southgate refused to make any comment about the driver and whether or not he was used to driving double-decker buses or whether he had been suspended pending the investigation.

Police are asking for witnesses or passengers who left the scene before speaking to police to come forward and help with this investigation to contact PC Hedges on 07800 675 368 or Swale Police on 01795 477055.