A BUS had its roof ripped off when it smashed into a railway bridge today.

The empty double- decker hit the bridge on Swan Lane in Lockwood.

The crash peeled most of the top deck backwards and left debris strewn across the road.

Luckily, no passengers were on the Yorkshire Traction bus at the time of the crash, at 8.40am, and no-one was hurt.

Eyewitness Linda Ellis, 49, of Swan Lane, said: "The bus came down the hill and it looked like the driver thought he was in a single-decker, because he lined it up to make sure he could get through.

"But as he passed there was an almighty bang and glass flew everywhere."

Her husband, Neil, 42, added: "I heard the bang and came running out of the flat. I'd seen the boards on the bridge which urge people to ring if there is an accident and rang police.

"I'd imagine they would check for structural damage."

Sgt Tim O'Sullivan, of Huddersfield police, said: "The driver got the bus from under the bridge and to the car park at David Brown's factory nearby.

"The railway authorities are being told and will probably send a structural engineer to assess any damage to the bridge."

No-one was immediately available for comment at Yorkshire Traction's Barnsley headquarters.