AN INVESTIGATION has been launched after a bus “crashed into a barrier” and smashed its front window in Basildon.

First Bus has confirmed there was a “collision” involving one of their buses that happened at the Basildon Bus Station, in the town centre, on Sunday morning.

An image shows a First Bus with a shattered front window and no bumper in the bus station at around 10:20am.

The cause of the crash is yet to be revealed, but an investigation has been launched.

A witness, who wishes not to be named, told the Echo that a bus had “driven through a barrier and into the station”.

They said: “I was waiting for a bus at the time, and while I was there, I heard a noise. At first, I thought it was just like shutters in a shop closing.

“I didn’t realise until a few minutes that, when a driver I know, mentioned that a bus had been driven into the bus station.

“It was a shock as it is something that happens once in a blue moon.

“I have no idea how they have managed it as where they park there is a barrier to stop people walking in front of the buses. So, the bus must have been driven through the yellow barrier and then into the frame of the station.

“It has taken its bumper off and completely smashed its window too.”

First Bus Essex were asked by the Echo if the claims of the bus hitting the yellow barriers in front of the bus shelter - protecting residents standing behind it - is correct.

They are yet to respond to those claims.

However, bosses confirmed no one was left injured.

A spokesman from First Essex added: “I can confirm that a collision involving one of our vehicles took place at Basildon bus station on Sunday 3 December.

“An investigation is underway into the cause of the collision.

“No one was injured in the collision.”