AROUND 23 passengers were hurt and a motorist suffered serious injuries when a bus driven by a Bolton man collided with a car.

Firefighters fought to cut free the 69-year-old Swinton driver from his Honda Concerto before he was rushed to Hope Hospital suffering from serious injuries to his face and chest.

Passengers on the bus, which was carrying around 40 people at the time of the incident, suffered minor cuts and bruising. The bus driver was uninjured.

The incident occurred as the car attempted to leave a dual carriageway in Pendlebury, Salford.

Just moments before the crash he had left a parking lane at the side of the road where it had pulled over to drop off a passenger.

The car was flung back across the road by the impact of the bus where it came to a halt after hitting a garden wall.

Police are appealing for witnesses to the incident which occurred on the Eastbound carriageway of Manchester Road near the Irlam O' Th' Heights roundabout at around 8am yesterday. FRI

Anyone with information should contact the Salford Traffic Unit on (0161) 856 5073.