CHRISTMAS shoppers watched in horror yesterday as the bus they were travelling on ploughed into the front of a pub after a collision with a car.

The Number 90 was travelling to Manchester, along Bury New Road, Whitefield, when the accident happened outside the Beehive at 1.20pm.

No-one was believed to have been seriously injured in the crash. Both vehicles were lodged in railings at the front of the pub.

Passenger Andrew Lomax (35) was sitting downstairs at the back of the bus reading a book. He said: "I heard the brakes screech, then there was a massive collision. The bus seemed like it was going to tip over. It was quite dramatic."

Pub regular Jason Campbell (29), of Dudley Avenue, Whitefield was sitting in the window of the Beehive when he saw a car careering towards him.

He said: "I flew out of my seat and ran to the other side of the pub. I thought the car was coming through the window."

The window remained intact but the bus caused damage to the exterior lights of the building.

Landlord Eric Griffiths (50) said: "If it had come at a slightly different angle then the bus would have careered straight through the pub."