Scene of devastation after "catastrophic" fire at Kev's Cars and Coaches

The huge fire at the depot on Birmingham Road, in the Lydiate Ash area, is believed to have been started by an electrical fault on one of the vehicles.

It broke out at around 8pm last night (Friday March 11) with the firm's 21 buses reduced to burnt out shells as the company, which runs bus routes and school transport, counts the cost today.

Thankfully around 70 firefighters stopped the fire reaching the building, which has been left with only broken windows.

Pic: Twitter Kings Norton Fire

Owners Wendy and Kevin Nind said school transport will be running as normal on Monday as the firm's 10 coaches survived the blaze.

They thanked everyone for their support after the devastating blaze.

The company released a statement saying: "Yesterday evening Kev’s Cars and Coaches, a local coach and bus company founded in 1975, suffered a catastrophic fire in the depot situated in Lydiate Ash Bromsgrove. 21 vehicles, including all but one of the buses, were lost.

"Thanks to the generosity of other local operators the company hopes to have full bus services restored mid next week.

"Coach services used mainly to transport schoolchildren in the Redditch and Bromsgrove areas on behalf of Worcester CC will operate as normal from Monday 14 March.

"Bus services affected and will operate again as soon as possible are 147 Halesowen to Bromsgrove; 355 Droitwich to Worcester; 318 Bromsgrove to Stourbridge; 19 Maypole to Rubery; 39/39A Woodgate/Quinton to Longbridge; 38 Northfield to Selly Oak; 42 Hollymoor to West Heath.

"Wendy and Kevin Nind, owners and directors of the company, and all Kev’s staff would like to thank everyone for their support and kindness during this difficult time."