WITNESSES looked on in horror as a pensioner was “thrown about like a ragdoll” under a bus.

The 84-year-old man, who has not been named, was hit by the 501 First bus at the "death trap" junction of Knowsley Street and Deansgate in Bolton town centre at about 2.45pm today.

Paramedics treated him at the scene for serious back injuries and he was taken to Royal Bolton Hospital. A police spokesman described his condition as “breathing and conscious”.

John Wallwork, aged 56, of Deane, said he was shocked by the incident.

“You just don’t expect it at such a busy junction that thousands of people pass every day — and you wonder how busy it is going to be during Christmas shopping,” he added.

Mr Wallwork said: “It was horrible to see. He was walking across the road and just couldn’t react that fast. The driver wasn’t going fast, it’s just a tricky bend.”

Another witness, who asked not to be named, said: “I was having a cheeseburger in McDonald’s when I saw the man walking across the road with a stick.

“He saw the bus, but because he couldn’t walk fast, he couldn’t get out of the way in time and then the bus hit him.

“He went under the wheels and was thrown about like a ragdoll.

“I hope he is alright but he looked very old and I don’t think he will be having a very nice Christmas.”

Firefighters from Bolton Central fire station in Moor Lane put wheel blocks on the bus to stabilise the vehicle while they worked with paramedics and police to get the man onto a stretcher.

The North West Air Ambulance was also scrambled to the scene, and landed on an unused car park opposite Bolton Bus Station, but was not needed.

A section of Knowsley Street was closed for about 90 minutes and vehicles, including buses, followed diversions.

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The bus driver, who looked shaken by his ordeal, was comforted by colleagues on another bus.

A First spokesman said: “At around 2.45pm a First bus operating on 501 service was involved in a collision with a pedestrian in Knowsley Street.

“Emergency services were called and the man was taken to hospital. No-one else was hurt in the incident.

“First staff are working with police to investigate the incident as well as manage services in the area.”

The accident is the latest in a series at the junction, and traders have previously called on highways bosses to step up safety measures.

In 2008, 78-year-old Anne Knowles was hit by a bus and later died.

At her inquest, deputy Bolton coroner Alan Walsh urged highways chiefs to seek immediate advice from the Department of Transport about possible road improvements.

At the time, Debbie Conway, of Sweetens bookshop, said: “Something needs to be done to make the road safer. It is a death trap.”

Phones4U manager David Hulme said: “If you sit and watch for five minutes, it’s amazing what goes on. Traffic needs to be slowed down. We see it every day.”

Afterwards, Bolton Council improved a crossing point so people are only prevented from crossing when vehicles approach.

There were two more serious accidents at the junction in 2008 and there have been at least six more since.