College students were evacuated from a bus after it filled with steam - with some thinking it had caught fire.

Yesterday morning, students from Fareham and Gosport were travelling to Itchen College on a Xelabus when the interior began to fill with what appeared to be a grey smoke, according to a parent of one student.

A parent of one of the students told the Echo: "My daughter, who is in their first year at Itchen, said that drivers where waving at them from cars and pointing towards the back of the bus. 

"My daughter said that the driver was looking for somewhere to stop the bus safely while students opened the windows inside.

"We are always grateful that we have a bus service to and from college but break-downs do seem to be fairly regular."

READ MORE: Southampton City Council housing service graded 'inadequate'

The bus pulled over next to the Aldi on Bursledon Road, Southampton, where children were then released and waited for another bus.

A spokesperson from Xelabus has now explained that it was steam, not smoke from a fire, that filled the bus. 

The spokesperson said: "The bus did not catch fire.

"The bus sprung a water leak which caused an amount of steam, which was exaggerated by the cold weather.

"The driver stopped, rang the office and students were moved onto another vehicle and got to college on time."

A spokesperson for Itchen College continued: "We were made aware of the breakdown and have nothing further to add beyond the statement by Xelabus."