A GRANDMOTHER had to pull her grandchild to safety after a runaway double decker bus headed towards her car in the car park behind Skipton Town Hall.

Julie Middleton was at the back of her Vauxhall Zafira strapping her two-year-old grandson, Thomas, into his pushchair when she heard a shout and saw the bus rolling towards them.

Her daughter, Sarah, was also at the rear of the vehicle, helping her other son, six-moth-old Daniel.

The two women had to quickly grab the children and jump out of the way before the bus ploughed into the front of their vehicle. The car was scratched and dented and was pushed backwards, damaging Daniel's pram.

Although no-one was injured in the incident, Mrs Middleton, from Riddlesden, was treated for shock. Thomas was also upset.

"It all happened really quickly but in slow motion at the same time," she explained.

"The man shouted and I turned to look. I didn't realise what had happened until the bus hit the cars and they all just ricocheted."

Mrs Middleton is relieved no-one was injured, but said it had been a terrifying experience. "We had planned a nice day out but it turned into a nightmare," she said.

The incident occurred at 11.05am on Wednesday.

The bus belonged to Finches of Wigan and there was no-one on board when it started rolling away from its parking spot near the wall up from the Three Links Club.

In addition to Mrs Middleton's car, the bus hit four other vehicles.

A police spokesman said they did not know how the accident had happened.

The Herald contacted Finches of Wigan, but the company did not wish to make a comment.