PASSENGERS have spoken of their terror and anger after a tyre flew off a bus while it was travelling down the motorway.

The incident, involving an Altham-based Rigbys Coaches vehicle, saw the bus grind to a halt on a sliproad of the M62 with ‘ terrified children screaming’.

Nobody was injured in the incident, which happened on Sunday evening on the replacement bus service from Manchester Airport to Huddersfield, but passengers have spoken of how they feared for their lives.

Itshik Akql, 28, who was on the bus with his two friends, said: “When the bus set off I knew there was something wrong. When it was still in Manchester it was making noises. You could smell the smoke coming into the bus.

“Me and my two friends were sat at the front but we moved further back to try and get away from the smell.

“As soon as we got onto the M62 the noises became louder. You could see the smoke. When we were on the slip road I saw the tyre fall off and and continue down the sliproad. The coach went on to the grass. It made such a loud bang.

“There were terrified children on the coach who were screaming.

“I could have died. Anything could have happened to me.

“This needs to be investigated.”

Adam Hurst, whose wife was on the coach, said: “My wife is still in shock about what happened.

“She was sitting on the seventh row when it happened. She said she heard a big bang and some sparks flying. The next thing she saw was the tyre rolling off onto the slip road.

“It was fortunate nobody was seriously hurt or killed. One of the passengers opened the door and they all got off.

“I am angry because my wife’s life was put at risk.”

A replacement vehicle was sent out.

A TransPennine Express spokesman said: “We apologise to all our customers on board the coach. Fortunately there were no injuries, and everyone was able to continue their journeys, either by a replacement coach or arranging their own onward travel.

“The safety of our customers and employees is our number one priority and this situation is being dealt with accordingly. A full investigation into the incident is now under way.”

When approached for a comment by the Lancashire Telegraph, a worker at Rigbys coaches said his boss was on holiday and unavailable.