MOTORISTS have been trapped in traffic chaos after a bus fire broke out in the heart of the Lake District.

Eye witnesses described seeing large flames coming from the back of a single-deck bus. The vehicle was parked outside of the Tourist Information Centre, in Windermere, at the time of the incident which occurred around noon today (Friday).

Two fire engines rushed to extinguish the blaze. The coach's diesel tank had split, causing diesel to escape from the tank.

Crews, including two firefighters wearing breathing apparatus, used one hose reel water jet to extinguish the blaze.

Firefighters washed the extremely slippery road with one main jet and two high pressure hose reels.

The Environment Agency attended this incident, due to the problem with the diesel tank. The Highways Agency was requested to attend the incident, for sanding of the road surface.

Office manager of the Lakes Hospitality Association, Gillian Bromley, stopped traffic from entering Victoria Street.

"We were worried the bus might explode so we wanted to make sure no one got too close," said Mrs Bromley. "It was quite scary. There was a lot of smoke."

Victoria Street has reopened but there is still long traffic jams for motorists entering the town.