New bendy bus blaze scare

Fresh safety fears were raised today after another bendy bus burst into flames.

The No25 caught fire in Ilford, gutting the entire rear section.

It was not in service but safety campaigners and drivers are concerned it could have been much more serious.

The bus was travelling from its depot at Waterden Road, Stratford. to Ilford, where it was due to enter service on Saturday.

In 2004 the entire fleet of 120 bendy buses was withdrawn after a series of fires within weeks of each other.

Three were in service while another was being driven along the M25 for delivery when the engine caught fire.

No one was seriously injured in any of the fires but dozens of passengers were forced to flee. A year later a blaze in the engine set the No436 on fire in New Cross.

The incidents led to the buses, introduced by Ken Livingstone in 2001, being dubbed "Ken's chariots of fire".