This is the dramatic moment a double-decker bus was engulfed by flames during a shocking arson attack on a busy city street.

Passengers were forced to flee after the top deck of the National Express West Midlands service was deliberately set alight in Handsworth, Birmingham.

Several firefighters battled to extinguish the blaze on Soho Road- one of the city's busiest streets - at 7.20pm on Wednesday (24/5).

Video footage obtained by Birmz Is Grime shows huge flames tearing through the vehicle as shocked witnesses watched on.

The top deck was left gutted by the fire, which West Midlands Police confirmed was being treated as an arson attack on board the Number 74 service.

West Midlands Fire Service also said the blaze, which took less than half an hour to extinguish, appeared to have been started deliberately.

Two crews from Handsworth fire station attended as well as highways engineers who were called to the scene due to damage to a nearby street light

Luckily, nobody is believed to have been injured.

A West Midlands Fire Service spokesperson said: “Firefighters wore breathing apparatus and used hose reels and a main jet to extinguish the fire, which is believed to have been started deliberately.

"They had left the scene by 8.30pm. No-one was reported injured."

A National Express West Midlands spokesperson said: "At approximately 19:30 yesterday (Wednesday 24 May) a National Express West Midlands double decker bus on the 74 service was involved in an incident on Soho Road, Birmingham.

"There were no injuries and all passengers were swiftly evacuated from the vehicle.

"West Midlands Police and West Midlands Fire Service attended the incident and we are giving every assistance with their investigations.

"Bus services in the area were diverted due to road closures as a result of the incident.

"We apologise to any of our customers whose journeys were affected."