Panic as THIRD London electric bus catches fire in just weeks – after double-decker exploded sparking traffic chaos

A THIRD London electric bus has caught fire just weeks after a double-decker exploded - sparking traffic chaos.

Footage shared on social media yesterday showed the burning vehicle in Putney Bus Garage, west London.

The garage was evacuated and the number 74 bus route past it diverted.

Two fire engines battled to put out the blaze, which left the front of the bus badly charred.

The Twitter user who posted the footage said: "Another London bus on fire - this time inside a bus garage.

"What the hell is going on with our buses?"

The London Fire Brigade said: "Firefighters tackled a fire involving an electric bus at a bus garage on Chelverton Road in Putney yesterday.

"Part of the bus was damaged by fire.

"Around 20 people left the building before firefighters arrived and there were no reports of any injuries.

"The Brigade’s 999 Control Officers received nine calls about the fire.

"The Brigade was called at 0821 and the fire was extinguished by 0913.

"Two fire engines from Fulham and Tooting Fire Stations attended the scene. The cause of the fire is under investigation."

TfL added that it was a route 265 bus and a different make and model to the one that caught fire in Wimbledon earlier this month.

But, the two vehicles were both electric and managed by the same operator, Go-Ahead.

Transport for London said: "Putney bus garage was partially closed following a fire on a bus.

"No one was on board the bus at the time and it was extinguished quickly.

"An investigation into the incident is now taking place."

Snaps shared on Facebook appear to show the badly damaged front of the bus.

Mayor Sadiq Khan has been urged to reassure customers that the city's fleet is safe after the third blaze in a fortnight.

City Hall Conservatives' transport spokesman Keith Prince AM said: "Sadiq Khan must reassure Londoners that electric buses are safe.

"This is the third fire on an electric bus in as many weeks. We don't yet know the cause of the first two bus fires.

"The mayor needs to tell Londoners what's going on with electric buses and why they are bursting into flames.”

It comes after another bus was completely destroyed by a blast in North Woolwich, east London on January 12.

The double-decker was not carrying passengers, and no-one was hurt.

An explosion also ripped off the back of a no. 200 bus in Wimbledon, south west London at 7.20am on January 11.

It is understood that the fires are not currently believed to have a common cause.