A bus crash in Purley which left one man with serious head injuries and several others shocked and bruised could have been avoided, according to public transport workers.

Several people called the Croydon Guardian after we told how a number 60 bus crashed into a road works machine in Brighton Road at around 6.30pm on Saturday, October 21.

They said code red' warnings were sent out on a London-wide intercom system warning drivers of the machinery which was protruding into the road.

Transport for London denied their version of events but they claimed the warnings stopped at approximately 1.30pm - five hours before the accident - leaving many drivers who started work later unaware of the obstacle.

They also said the problem became worse after dark, when the obstacle could not been seen easily.

One bus worker, who did not want to be identified, explained: "The first code red call was at around 6.30am from a driver and the last code red call was at about 6.09pm when a driver told TfL about the digger.

"But the last warning sent out on the Centrecom system was at about 1.30pm, so any drivers starting their shifts from 3pm onwards would not have been aware of the situation.

"It was going to happen, it was just a case of when. Why nothing was done to remove it I will never know."

The source also said that the bus driver had been suspended and was facing disciplinary action, however this has not been confirmed by TfL.

He added: "It just seems to me that so many other people have not done their job and it is not fair to see this driver punished for other peoples mistakes.

"I don't think there was any driver error involved, if they had done their job it would never have happened."

A Croydon man who was driving behind the bus when it crashed spoke of his shock and how he helped injured passengers.

Builder Ian Burman, 28, and his friend Paul Kidd, 26, were the first people on the bus and bandaged a man who suffered head injuries.

Ian said: "It happened right in front of me. Paul and I were wrapping bandages around this boy's head and trying to get everyone off the bus.

"There were six or seven teenage girls at the back of the bus trapped and I sent Paul up to calm them down while I was looking after the fellow with head injuries.

"We were just trying to keep him awake and his head was in a really bad way. I was covered in blood, it was a terrible thing to happen. We were both so shocked, it is just not something you expect to happen every day."

Sixteen-year-old Amanda Browne was on the bus when it happened and she said she has not been on one since.

She added: "Me and my 13-year-old sister were about to get off the bus at the next stop when the crash happened. It was so frightening, I can still smell the petrol now, it was so strong."

Transport for London London spokesman said: "Centrecom has no record of any code red calls and say that they were not contacted regarding an obstruction in the road."

What do you think? email letters@croydonguardian .co.uk.