AN Oxford Bus Company bus caught fire shortly after 9am today on Headington Hill, Oxford.

A spokesman for Oxfordshire Fire Service said all the passengers managed to get off the single-decker immediately after the fire started and no one was injured.

Phil Ashworth, a spokesman for Oxford Bus Company, said a passenger alerted the driver that smoke was filling the back of the number 8 to Barton.

The driver then stopped the bus and told a small number of passengers to get off to wait for a replacement bus.

Mr Ashworth said: "The driver followed the emergency procedure to the letter and called the fire service, who arrived to damp down flames coming from the engine compartment.

"This is a very rare occurrence."