A bus has crashed into a shop in east London, injuring 19 people including schoolchildren.
Witnesses told of hearing a “big bang” as the double decker mounted the pavement and ploughed into an end-of-terrace repairs shop in Highams Park, Chingford.
Three children and two adults were taken to hospital, including the bus driver, who was trapped in his cab following the crash. Another 14 people were treated at the scene by paramedics, London Ambulance Service said.
Police, paramedics and firefighter were called to Selwyn Avenue at about 8.20am on Monday.
Video and images from the scene show the front of a shop partially destroyed and a large police and ambulance presence.
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Fire crews used specialist equipment to free the driver following the crash.
The owner of a local cafe who helped with rescue efforts said a number of schoolchildren were among the injured passengers found "scared and crying" inside the bus.
Eric Garip, 38, told the PA news agency he rushed out of The Corner Cafe after hearing a "big bang" on the opposite side of the road and began trying to carry people out through the emergency door of the bus.
"There were a couple of kids on the floor," he said. We were trying to take the kids out and they were panicking. I spoke to the driver and said to come out, he said: 'I can't, I'm stuck'."
Mr Garip added: "Some parents were in the bus as well, crying. I tried to calm them but it was a big shock. We went upstairs and told the kids to come out but one was on the stairs so [we] were lifting them.
"It was very bad. They were all scared and crying."
Katriye Osman, who dialled 999 after hearing what sounded like a “really loud explosion”, said around 50 or 60 schoolchildren were standing around the bus after it collided with the repairs shop.
Ms Osman, who witnessed the aftermath from outside her beauty salon, added:
“It was absolutely awful,” she said.
“It happened so quickly but all I know is as it was going over it felt quite quick.”
She added: “I’m really really shaken up by it. It was like a really really loud explosion. It was really traumatising.”
An LAS spokesperson earlier said: “We were called at 8.19am to reports of an incident involving a bus on The Broadway, Highams Park.
“We sent a number of resources to the scene including ambulance crews, advanced paramedics, paramedics in fast response cars, incident response officers and members of our Hazardous Area Response Team (HART).
“We also dispatched a trauma team from London’s Air Ambulance.”
Mayor of London Sadiq Khan said: “My thoughts are with everyone affected by this terrible incident.”
London Fire Brigade Chingford station commander Dave Hill said: “Firefighters used specialist cutting equipment to release the driver of the bus.
“Crews made the scene safe and have carried out a systematic search of the building to ensure there are no other casualties trapped.
“There are local road closures in place around the junction of Selwyn Avenue and Winchester Road and we would ask people to avoid the area where possible.”
A spokesperson for the Metropolitan Police said: "At approximately 8.20am on Tuesday 25 January police were called to reports of a bus in collision with a shop in Selwyn Avenue, E4.
"Officers and London Ambulance Service are on scene.
"A number of people have reported suffering injuries and are being treated at the scene.
"Road closures remain in place around the junction of Selwyn Avenue and Winchester Road.
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"Inquiries into the circumstances remain ongoing."
Road closures are in place while emergency services work at the scene.