M6 Toll fire: Coach firm issues statement as bus carrying Manchester City fans bursts into flames

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Supporters are struggling to reach Wembley ahead of the League Cup final

Manchester City fans are facing a nightmare journey ahead of the League Cup final after a coach burst into flames. The bus, which was carrying City supporters, erupted on the M6 Toll near junction three, in Warwickshire.

It comes as fans are trying to reach Wembley for City's League Cup final clash with Arsenal, which is due to kick off at 4.30pm today (March 22). The M6 Toll has been closed southbound between junctions four and two since the blaze broke out.

Images showed huge plumes of smoke and large flames soaring from the vehicle. Fans were evacuated from the bus before crews worked at the scene.

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A spokesperson for Ridley Coaches, the firm whose bus burst into flames, said: "We can confirm an incident occurred involving one of our coaches on the M6 Toll southbound earlier today. All passengers and the driver were safely evacuated with no injuries.

"We are grateful to the emergency services for their swift response. The coach was carrying fans to the Carabao Cup final, and the passengers are all safely on replacement coaches to the stadium. We are working with authorities to understand the circumstances and will provide further updates as appropriate."

Huge queues have built up on the M6 Toll approaching the fire scene, with traffic at a standstill and concerns over whether fans will make Wembley in time for the match. One City supporter told the Manchester Evening News: "We have just started moving after a one-and-a-half hour wait.

"The burnt out coach was just a blackened shell, but no one hurt. We were already running late as coaches arrived late at the Etihad, so no service stops all the way to London. There is a tiny loo on our coach for number ones only."

An update from National Highways West Midlands said: "The M6 Toll in Warwickshire remains closed southbound between T4 (Weeford) and T2 (Coleshill) due to a coach fire. Traffic which is caught within the closure is now passing the scene of the incident. The road remains closed to all other traffic at this time."