A smash between a loose trailer and a bus in Helston at the weekend that left several people with minor injuries could have had far worse consequences, one witness has said.

Helston resident and Packet photographer Kathy White said it was "lucky no-one was hurt" when the trailer ploughed into the back of the bus after coming adrift from the tractor towing it, on the Penzance Road close to a pedestrian crossing and the Lidl supermarket, on Saturday morning.

Local businessman Mark Alford, who was one of the first on the scene, said he heard an "almighty bang" and rushed out to find fuel spilling onto the street, before evacuating the passengers from the bus and standing by with a fire extinguisher until emergency services arrived.

Mr Alford, whose business Alford's Flooring had opened that morning, said: "There was fuel pouring out the back, so I just ran towards where the doors were open on the bus.

"I went on, there was one guy holding his neck, everyone else looked fine; a little bit shaken. I told everyone to get off the bus straight away because of the fuel."

He said the person who appeared worst affected was the driver of the tractor, who was "shaking and in shock" and had to be sat down with a drink.

He added: "We told him it was a good result, it could have been a lot worse."

According to Mr Alford, the tractor-trailer was following the bus in Helston-bound lane of the A394 when the bus pulled in to a request stop next to Helston Diesels. As the tractor driver moved around the bus, the trailer became unhitched and "carried on going in a straight line, and hit the back of the bus."

Mrs White said the trailer had slid under the back of the bus, and another tractor had been needed to come and pull it out.

She added: "It was lucky really, because there it can be chaos with people crossing the road, it's not far from the crossing."

A police spokesperson said a call was made to the emergency services around 11.15am, reporting that a trailer towed by a red Manitou registered to Redruth had hit a bus with six people on board.

Ambulance, fire and police were all sent to the scene, and four people were found to be suffering from minor injuries, thought to be whiplash.

Highways workers were also called to deal with a fuel spill, and the road was blocked in both directions while it was cleaned, before being reopened at around 1.30pm.

The spokesperson added that no police investigation was taking place.

Pictures 1. Levi Mitchal and Demi Smith, 2 and 3 by Kathy White

4, 5, and 6 by Mark Alford of Alford's Flooring