AN heroic bus driver from Carlisle who helped rescue a woman whose car had been destroyed by a tree in a storm has been rewarded for his efforts. Darren Johnson, 46, who works for Stagecoach Cumbria, was driving a bus from the city to Dumfries when he noticed a tree had crashed on to a car up ahead.

The tree had plummeted onto the car’s bonnet and smashed the windscreen, near the village of Ruthwell, between Dumfries and Annan. The incident happened during wet and windy weather in March.

The female driver escaped with minor injuries.

Darren, 46, of Burgh Road, Carlisle, said: "The lady was very lucky. In my two-and-a-half years driving the bus I'd never seen anything like this. I was just doing what anyone would have done in that situation. It just so happened that I arrived first."

Darren received his award from Mark Whitelocks, managing director at Stagecoach Cumbria and North Lancashire.

He praised Darren's actions saying: "Recognising, supporting and rewarding great people is an important pillar of our business culture.

"Darren’s brave and selfless actions upon discovering the accident went above and beyond his duties and made a real and positive difference that day.

"We are extremely proud of Darren, and delighted to award him with our Great People Champion - Carlisle Depot 2019 Award.

"Darren joins our other award winners at our other depots in Kendal, Barrow, West Cumbria and Morecambe. Further proof that not all heroes wear capes, most wear bus driver uniforms!

"Congratulations to Darren and our other winners.”

Darren had first noticed the car in front of him was getting closer but the brake lights were not on.

He said: "I could see a tree had come down. I got out to help.

“The woman had her arm out of the window. I asked if she could move and she just asked me to get her out. I had to force the door open.

“If it had been a split second later the tree could have killed her.”

Mr Johnson phoned for an ambulance and a passenger on the bus rang the police.

He said: “There were about six or seven passengers on the bus and they all got off. It happened on a really quiet road.

“We also rang the lady’s husband and he came quickly.

“The farmers nearby were brilliant. They came with their chainsaws and one had a power fork lift and they helped cut up the tree and move it from the road. The road was open again within an hour.

Police Scotland said the woman had a “lucky escape”.