A MAN was rushed to hospital with chest and leg injuries yesterday after falling under a bus.

The 43-year-old was trapped under the shuttle bus in Middlesbrough for about 30 minutes, while firefighters hoisted the vehicle into the air.

The man was conscious throughout his ordeal, during which police closed Borough Road and diverted traffic along Abingdon Road.

Middlesbrough Fire Station Officer Kevin Harrison said the bus - the 492 service to Acklam - probably weighed about 50 tonnes.

He said: "All we saw on arrival was his leg sticking out from under the bus. We had to get our heavy rescue unit out to lift it.

"We got the passengers off the bus and managed to lift the vehicle sufficiently enough to get the chap out. He was then taken to Middlesbrough General Hospital."

PC John Morton, from Cleveland Police's crash investigation unit, said it was not known how the man became trapped.

Sheraz Hussain, 19, said: "We were walking past and we just heard a bang and we looked and he was under the bus. Then all we heard was some screams."

Leven Valley Coaches could not be contacted for comment last night.