13 January 2012 Last updated at 10:20 ET

Bus crashes into Manchester pub injuring driver

Landlord Keith Wilan described what happened when the bus crashed

Firefighters have cut an injured driver from his cab after his bus crashed into a pub in Manchester.

The bus hit the Bull's Head, on the corner of London Road and Granby Row, at 11:55 GMT.

Paramedics treated the driver, thought to be in his 50's, before fire officers freed him using cutting gear. He has been taken to the Manchester Royal Infirmary with suspected back injuries.

The pub's landlord Keith Wilan said the bus caused "a hell of a bang".

No-one within the pub was injured and the cause of the crash is unknown.

Greater Manchester police have put in place traffic restrictions and London Road is closed from Fairfield Street to the Mancunian Way.

Bus operator Stagecoach said it believed the bus was empty apart from the driver, as it had not begun its service.

The Bull's Head has been closed while the structural damage to the building is assessed.

Mr Wilan said it was "devastating" and that it was "almost like an explosion".

"All the pictures came off the wall and then the wall came flying in," he said.

"It was lucky it wasn't five minutes later, because we had a party of 13 booked into that area."