LONDON: A double-decker bus has crashed into a shop in south London, leaving two women trapped on the top deck.
The driver has been taken to hospital and a number of passengers were treated at the scene.
Police were called just before 7am to reports of a bus hitting a building in Lavender Hill, near Clapham Junction train station in south-west London.
Photos on social media show the vehicle on the pavement and smashed into the front of the Poggen Pohl Kitchen Design Centre.
London Fire Brigade, London Ambulance Service and the Metropolitan Police are in attendance.
London Fire Bridgade tweeted: ‘Two fire engines and three fire rescue units are at the scene of a bus which has crashed into a shop in Lavender Hill in Battersea.’
The Metropolitan Police said in a statement: “Police were called at approximately 06:55hrs on Thursday, 10 August to reports of a bus in collision with a building on Lavender Hill at the junction with Haltenburg Gardens, SW11. Officers, the London Fire Brigade and London Ambulance Service are in attendance.The driver has been taken to a south London hospital. A number of passengers were treated by LAS at the scene.Two passengers remain trapped on the upper deck.
“The road is currently closed to traffic.”
Bus routes 77 from Waterloo to Tooting, 87 from Wandsworth to Aldwych and 156 from Wimbledon to Vauxhall were all affected by the traffic issues.
In addition, passengers on the 345 from Peckham to Kensington and G1 from Streatham to Battersea also faced problems after a diversion was imposed.