FIVE passengers escaped injury today when a bus and a removal van crashed at Slinfold, Horsham.

The bus driver was thrown to the floor by the impact leaving him unable to brake as the vehicle careered out of control.

The bus was stopped by concrete bollards surrounding the Toll House Toyota garage forecourt, where the bus struck three cars.

The Bishop's Move furniture van careered into a house on the opposite side of the road.

The driver and two passengers escaped with slight cuts and bruises.

Heather Kallend was in Wellcroft Lodge at the entrance to a nursing home when the accident happened.

She said: "The house shook violently. When I looked out there was a lorry embedded in the dining room window."

The bus and removal van collided at the junction of Lyons Road and the A264.

The Number 63 Horsham to Guildford bus was turning right into Slinfold when it was in collision with the removal van which had been travelling in the same direction.

Passengers picked up bus driver Anthony Durmant, 59, of Forest Close, Horsham.

Joyce Lawrence, of Broadbridge Heath, was sitting on the opposite side to the impact.

She said: "There was an almighty bang and glass flew everywhere. Fortunately no one was hit. The driver was thrown out of his seat. We were all very shaken."

Pauline Willis, of Horsham, who was travelling to Guildford to buy an outfit for her son's wedding, said she was relieved no one had been injured or hit by flying glass.

Mark Woodham, of The Parade, Burgh Heath, Surrey, a passenger in the removal van, said there was a bang and the windows started shattering.

He said: "It all happened so quickly. We headed towards the house and went through a fence. It was very frightening."

The bus damaged a VW Golf and an Avensis estate.

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