Bus stop next to car park of South Shields Lidl store knocked over by minibus

It happened at Lidl, off Laygate Road, at about 7.30pm on Thursday.

It's thought an engine fault in the minibus meant it became engulfed in smoke before hitting the bus stop post.

Officers from South Shields fire station were called to the scene as were police.

Crew manager of South Shields station Tony Chapman said: "It looked like the turbo had blown out in the minibus and the bonnet and the cab had filled with smoke.

"It flattened a bus stop and crashed into a barrier as well.

"We made the vehicle safe and the police took over from there."

No passengers of the minibus or any other people were hurt in the crash.