A BUS driver is fighting for his life after crashing into railings in Bolton town centre.

Mike Hamza, who is aged in his 40s or 50s, is believed to have suffered a heart attack while driving the free bus in Crook Street, at about 1.50pm yesterday.

Eyewitnesses said they saw the bus go from Crook Street, straight across Thynne Street, where it crashed into railings on the other side of the road.

About 15 adult passengers climbed out of the emergency exit door at the rear of the vehicle before trying to help Mr Hamza, who was slumped over the steering wheel.

Paramedics lay Mr Hamza on the floor of the bus to perform CPR, before taking him to the Royal Bolton Hospital by ambulance.

A spokesman for the North West Ambulance Trust said a man was taken to the Royal Bolton Hospital in cardiac arrest.

A elderly woman who was a passenger on the bus was also taken to hospital, suffering from shock and a minor ankle injury.

Gordon Entwistle, aged 66, was walking along Crook Street when he saw the crash.

He said: “The bus was pulling out on to the junction and I thought the cars had stopped to let him out and turn left but he just carried on and went straight through the fence.

“Someone said he had a heart attack. He wasn’t going fast, he was only going about five miles per hour. I thought, ‘he’s not turning’ and then he went through the fence.”

Kevin Banks, landlord of the Sweet Green Tavern, in Crook Street, went out to try to help the people on the bus.

He said: “One old lady was really badly shaken and she has been taken off in an ambulance.

“The driver had collapsed across the steering wheel. We are assuming he had a heart attack. I saw them lift him out of the driver’s seat and lie him down on the bus floor and give him CPR.

“All the passengers looked stunned and in shock, and a few of the passengers were trying to help or comfort him.”

Mr Hamza worked for Maytree Travel, which runs free buses in Bolton town centre.

A spokesman for the company, based in Smethurst Lane, said they were unable to comment.

Colin Roland, aged 43, a former employee of Maytree Travel, said: “They think he had a heart attack when he was driving. I could see them resuscitating him as they took him in the ambulance. I tried to go to see him but they wouldn’t let me near.

“He is such a lovely man, I hope he is okay.”

Thynne Street, at the junctions of Trinity Street and Bridgeman Street, was closed by police and remained shut for several hours.