Bus explodes as Potters Bar bus garage is engulfed in flames and six vehicles are damaged in fire

This is the terrifying moment a London bus purportedly explodes into flames, engulfing the whole depot.

Firefighters were battling a major blaze at the Metroline bus station in Potters Bar’s High Street after being called to the scene at 2.36pm on Sunday.

Following reports of a ‘unbelievable noise’ mimicking an explosion, a big cloud of smoke blasted across the Hertfordshire town, with some people reporting on Twitter that the smoke could be seen much 11 miles (18km) away in St Albans.

Hertfordshire Fire and Rescue Service said at least four buses were involved in the fire in the Metroline garage, which are run around London, and was working with police to evacuate the surrounding area. There are no reported injuries.

According to Hertfordshire Live, an unnamed bus driver said that the fire was believed to have been caused by a battery exploding in one of the electric buses while it was charging – but this has not yet been confirmed.

No one was on board any of the buses at the time of the blaze.

The service took more than 70 calls from members of the public about the huge blaze. The A1000 road was shut while fire fighters tackled the flames.

Andy Hopcroft, Herts Deputy Chief Fire Officer, said: ‘The service was called to reports of a significant fire at Potters Bar Bus Garage at around 2.30mph this afternoon.

‘The first fire engine was on the scene within four minutes where four buses were well alight.