BEER garden drinkers had a lucky escape in rush-hour Leigh when a bus careered out of control smashing into the town's oldest pub.
Up to 40 passangers were on the First Manchester single decker as it left the town centre bus station and seconds later smashed into the George and Dragon in King Street.
Three passengers were taken to hospital with minor injuries. The accident happened at 4.40pm and police said the bus veered out of control into the path of oncoming traffic after turning out of the station.
It collided with a Renault car before careering through metal railings, across a footpath and crashing close to the beer garden into the side wall of the 350-year-old pub.
Traffic inspector Tom Graham said: "People have been very lucky here today. The injuries have been minor with slight cuts to the head and shock. We are now interviewing the driver to find out what happened."
A council building inspector was called to assess the extent of the damage to the pub.
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