These CCTV images show the end of a terrifying gun drama on a city bus.

Armed police tailed the bus along the Sussex coast after a passenger reported seeing someone carrying a gun on the top deck.

A 60-year-old man was eventually arrested and bailed after the incident and bus management paid tribute to their workers for keeping their heads despite the risk of violence.

A passenger on the 12A Coaster service from Peacehaven to Brighton raised the alarm as the bus passed through Roderick Avenue, Peacehaven, on March 15.

He had spotted a man on the top deck of the bus with a gun in a bag at about 11.40am.

Driver Richard Kemp briefly got off the bus and called managers at Brighton and Hove Bus and Coach company.

They called police, who advised he should continue as normal until officers could reach the bus.

Mr Kemp then got back on and, in scenes reminiscent of the 1990s thriller Speed, kept the bus moving normally while waiting for help to arrive.

Colleague Phil Akers watched the bus’s progress on global positioning system equipment in the Brighton and Hove Bus and Coach Company’s control room and updated police on its movements.

Mr Kemp drove the bus along the A259 to Rottingdean, where the first police armed response unit began trailing it.

He continued to Duke’s Mound, where police signalled him to pull over at 12.01pm.

Armed officers got on and arrested a man on the top deck on suspicion of possessing a firearm in a public place with intent to cause fear or alarm.

They found a BB gun and an air rifle. The man was released on bail without charge until April 22.

He is not believed to have posed a threat of violence.

Bus company managing director Roger French said: “I’m really proud of the way our driver and controller handled this situation.

“They kept their cool and with the police brought everything to a successful conclusion.”