A bus driver had to be cut free from his cab and passengers were injured in a head on crash with a van on Monday night.

The van appeared to have veered into the path of the single decker bus in the wet windy weather as it travelled from Oxford to Reading.

Passengers on the bus were left with head and spinal injuries in the smash that closed the A4074 for more than four hours.

The van driver managed to climb free of the transit before collapsing at the side of the road.

Watch Manager Rob Read, based at Dee Road station, said the impact of the collision had forced the van's engine onto the passenger seat.

Crews from Goring, Henley, Oxford and the heavy rescue tender from Dee Road attended the scene near the Pack Horse pub after the crash at 8.30pm.

The front of the bus had to be removed using hydraulic cutting equipment and winches so the driver could be reached and treated by paramedics.

Both drivers, and several passengers, were taken to the Royal Berkshire Hospital in Reading, for treatment. One passenger was removed from the bus on a spinal board by paramedics after suffering back and neck injuries. Another suffered a large cut to his head.

Firefighter Read said: "The van had the bus collided head on.

"The van was so far over the wrong side of the road the passenger side of the van and the passenger side of the bus took the impact.

"If it had been any further towards the driver side someone would have died."

The smash ended a night of woe on Reading's Road as the town centre came to a standstill because of a accident on the M4 between near junction 11.

Commuters short ten minute journeys turned into hour long drives home.

Drivers were stuck in car parks unable to even get onto the road system between 5.30pm and 7.30pm.

Mya Lacarte, in Prospect Street, Caversham, had all their bookings cancelled because of the travel chaos so the chef took platters of their food and handed it out to frustrated motorists.

Firefighter Read warned people that the with the onset of autumn drivers should take extra care on the road made slippery with the rain and fallen leaves.