BURNLEY FC supporters had a narrow escape when their coach was engulfed in flames.

A double decker carrying around 60 fans from the Accrington Clarets Supporters’ Club was at the centre of the drama as they travelled to Rotherham.

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The coach, which had been provided by Oswaldtwistle-based Red Rose Travel, was passing through Castletown, near Sheffield on the way to the televised Championship fixture on Friday when it broke down for the second time.

Many fed up fans then abandoned the coach to travel the final few miles to Rotherham’s New York Stadium stadium by bus and taxi.

But moments later the bus was engulfed in flames.

Phil Riley, from Accrington Clarets, said: “There had been mechanical problems before the second breakdown and the fans were leaving the coach to make their own way for the final few miles.

“It’s so fortunate that they did as when the stragglers were leaving the bus they saw flames and smoke at the rear of the bus.

“The fans ended up hitching lifts, getting on buses and a fleet of 18 taxis was ordered to get them to the match.

“It ended up with a convoy of taxis arriving at the stadium.

“The most important thing was that nobody was injured and everyone got home safely.

“It was lucky they had taken thing into their own hands and left the bus or it could have been much more dangerous.”

The flames were seen on the upper deck, close to the engine compartment.

The vehicle was promptly evacuated of any remaining fans as the flames spread, eventually engulfing the rear of the vehicle and causing smoke to billow around 40 feet in the air.

Shocked fans watched from the roadside as the fire escalated with the coach largely destroyed by the blaze.

A spokesman for South Yorkshire Fire and Rescue, said: “We were alerted to a fire on a double decker coach at around 6.20pm in the Chapeltown area of Sheffield.

“Two crews were sent and on arrival found the vehicle was well alight and emitting a large amount of smoke.

“The fire was extinguished using hose reels and the crews were on the scene until 7.30pm.

“It appears the fire began at the rear of the upper level, close to the engine compartment.”

There were no reported injuries in the incident and the blaze is being treated as an accident caused by an electrical or engine fault.

After the drama of their trip, the affected fans were at least able to watch a Clarets 2-1 victory, with Sam Vokes scoring an 81st minute winner.

Joyce Haluk, had organised another coach for the Burnley Supporters’ Club.

She said: “At the game we heard that one of the other coaches has been involved in a fire.

“It was concerning but thankfully nobody was injured.

“After the game a single decker had turned up for some of the stranded supporters and we were told that another one was on its way to pick up those left.”