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Bus crashes into Manchester city centre shop

Police, fire and ambulance crews were dispatched after reports of the incident in Piccadilly Gardens.

Kim Pilling
Monday 16 October 2023 17:25 BST
Emergency services at the scene of a bus crash at the City Tower building close to Manchesterā€™s Piccadilly Gardens Metrolink stop (Peter Byrne/PA)
Emergency services at the scene of a bus crash at the City Tower building close to Manchesterā€™s Piccadilly Gardens Metrolink stop (Peter Byrne/PA) (PA Wire)

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Emergency services are in attendance after a bus crashed into a shop in Manchester city centre.

Police, fire and ambulance crews were dispatched after reports of the incident in Piccadilly Gardens.

A spokesperson for North West Ambulance Service confirmed there are ā€œa number of casualtiesā€.

Photos from the scene show the pavement cordoned off with the busā€™s front end inside a bubble tea shop called T4.

In a statement, Greater Manchester Police (GMP) said on Monday: ā€œAt around 1pm today,Ā police were called to reports of a collision involving a bus and a shop in Piccadilly Gardens.

ā€œPolice alongside colleagues in the North West Ambulance Service and Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue have been in attendance.

ā€œThere are road closures in the area whilst emergency services remain at the scene dealing with the collision and officers from GMPā€™s serious collision investigation unit are in attendance.

ā€œWe would ask members of the public to avoid the area where possible whilst officers establish the full circumstances.ā€

Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service said: ā€œAt 1.15pm today, two fire engines from Manchester Central and Salford fire stations as well as the technical response unit from Ashton fire station were called to an incident on Parker Street, Manchester city centre.

ā€œCrews were in attendance for around one hour and 45 minutes.ā€

A spokesperson for North West Ambulance Service said: ā€œWe have responded to an incident reported as a bus colliding with a building. The 999 call was received at 1.13pm.

ā€œWe have four ambulances, two senior paramedics, a cycle responder, an operations manager and the Hazardous Area Response Team on the scene.ā€

Transport for Greater Manchesterā€™s (TfGM) head of facilities management, Howard Hartley, said: ā€œBus and tram services are currently unable to stop at Piccadilly Gardens while emergency services deal with a serious incident.

ā€œWe have staff there who are on hand to help passengers and direct them to their nearest service, and Iā€™d encourage anyone who usually catches a service in the area to check our website or social media channels for the latest information and advice.ā€

A large police cordon remains in place as road collision investigators work.

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