A BUS company boss has told how one of his drivers had a lucky escape when a 60ft tree toppled on to his bus.

Paul Hunt, 41, of Ribbleton, had just pulled into Whalley Interchange terminal when he heard a huge crash and thought he had been hit by another vehicle.

His boss at Preston City Transport, Mark Pattinson, said: "He had just pulled in when he heard a huge bang. Police were already nearby dealing with a minor flood and called the fire brigade.

"When he got out of the cab he realised a huge tree had fallen on the bus.

"He was very shocked and trembling when he returned to the depot.

"Luckily he was driving a new bus with a reinforced steel roof and the vehicle was empty.

"Even if there had been inside, no one would have been hurt, but he was certainly very shaken."

Mr Hunt was manning the 200 service that runs from Whalley to Calderstones Park, which was suspended for two hours while firefighters winched the tree from the stricken vehicle.

The bus, which suffered £500 worth of damage, was taken back to the Preston City Transport workshop in Ribchester for repairs and expected to be back on the road today.

The tree was one of several huge poplars at the Interchange owned by Whalley Parish Council.

Chairman Eric Ronnan described the incident as a freak accident and said he was relieved no one was hurt.

He said: "I went to the site as soon as I heard the tree had come down and arranged to have it cleared.

"The tree wasn't diseased and was one of several healthy trees in the area struck down by the storm."