Piccadilly Gardens bus crash: Everything we know so far as ambulance service and police issue statement

Injuries have been reported after a single-decker bus crashed into a building off Piccadilly Gardens in Manchester city centre earlier today.

A large emergency services presence remains at the scene on Parker Street, which runs adjacent to Piccadilly Gardens Bus Station, which has been closed completely. All buses serving the station and the area have been diverted.

North West Ambulance Service confirmed 'a number of casualties', but said it couldn't, as yet, give further details on how many people have been taken to hospital as a result.

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It's understood the bus involved, a blue-coloured Diamond service, ploughed into a the front of a shop near to City Tower. The horror incident was reported at lunchtime - the parade of shops and stores on Parker Street includes Lidl, Spar and Starbucks.

It's not known as yet whether anyone has been seriously injured, although specialist firefighters are working at the scene.

A Manchester Evening News reporter at the scene, however, said she witnessed emergency services escorting at least one person into a waiting ambulance on a stretcher. Others, it's understood, are also being helped to safety out of the building.

White tents have been put up by emergency services at the scene. It's understood firefighters are also working at the scene behind screens. Police and paramedics from North West Ambulance Service are also at the scene.

A NWAS spokesperson said: "We have four ambulances, two senior paramedics, a cycle responder, an operations manager and the Hazardous Area Response Team on the scene. There are a number of casualties, but I'm not able to give the details