Grandmother counts cost after runaway bus rams into house

Pauline Hill was returning to her home in Hamble after a trip to a local supermarket when she found a runaway bus had ploughed into her terraced cottage.

The single-decker bus is believed to have rolled from the bus stop opposite the Grade 2 listed building, opposite The Square in Satchell Lane, after a passenger released the handbrake.

Speaking to the Daily Echo, Mrs Hill's son Tony Hill said she was still recovering from the shock of the damage.

"She was horrified when she saw what had happened," he said.

"She was returning home from shopping at Tesco with her friend and just couldn't believe it.

"It doesn't look like a lot of damage but inside it is quite devastating. Thankfully she wasn't at home."

Neighbours looked after Mrs Hill, who is in her late eighties and is expecting her first great grandchild in a few weeks, until her son, who lives in Locks Heath, could get to the home.

Mr Hill, who grew up in the house, said they are now waiting for a structural engineer to inspect the damage which is centred around the front door and porch area of the building, before they can estimate how much it will cost to repair the £350,000 home.

Mr Hill, who is a sales manager with two children, said: "Of course the ironic thing is that next week the council start roadworks to improve the road and to move the bus stop."

The driver of the number 16 First Bus had got out of the vehicle before the incident happened on Friday afternoon and it is thought a male passenger released the handbrake, causing the vehicle to roll 20ft into the cottage.

A female passenger was taken to hospital via ambulance after suffering shock and police are now looking for the passenger responsible.

The front window of the bus was smashed in the collision and First Bus are also investigating what happened.

Anyone with any information about the incident which occurred at around 4.45pm on Friday, can contact Hampshire police on 0845 045 4545.