A NEW photo has emerged showing the damage done to the A13 following a dramatic bus fire.

The double-decker vehicle was completely destroyed after it went up in flames on a slip road on the A13 at the Five Bells interchange.

The stretch of road was shut for more than 24 hours to allow emergency services to deal with the incident and clear-up operation.

A new road surface had to be re-laid due to the damage done by the fire.

Thurrock Council posted before and after images to show the extent of the operation.

It said in an update last night: “Overnight works on the Five Bells exit slip going eastbound off the A13 meant that extensive damage caused by a bus fire was fixed in time for the road to re-open this morning.

“Teams cleared debris yesterday and worked throughout the night to resurface the road.”

First Essex says it is investigating how its bus caught fire, after experts said the cause was accidental.

No-one was seriously hurt by the blaze, but four people were assessed at the scene by paramedics.