Thirty hurt as double decker bus overturns

None of the injuries was described as serious, but some passengers were put on spinal boards by the emergency services and five people were treated at the scene.

The driver was said to be badly injured and cutting equipment was needed to free them.

Ciaran Rogan from bus company, Translink, said the accident happened around 2;15pm yesterday. "A double-decker bus travelling towards Belfast city centre mounted the curb just outside Central Station and collapsed on its side.

"The passengers to the best of our knowledge could be described as walking wounded. They have been taken to four hospitals in the city."

He added: "The driver was a bit more seriously injured. He had to be cut from the cab."

Northern Ireland Ambulance Service said more than 20 personnel were on the scene, mainly dealing with cuts, bruises and sprains.

Mr Rogan said the bus had mounted the curb, hit a wall and fallen on to its side, but it was too early to identify the cause.

He added: "It is very exceptional that you would have any incident like this.

"I don't think there is anyone I have spoken to who can remember something like this happening before.

"The fact that it is so unusual means the investigation will have to be fairly rigorous and until we find out the results of that investigation, it's impossible to say exactly why it happened."

Eyewitnesses said there had been a loud noise when the bus crashed.

"Looking out of the window at it, I can see that the emergency windows are open where people were evacuated," said one witness.

"The front of the bus looks really badly mangled."