Schoolchildren have been rescued from a bus stranded in flood water.

Firefighters from Stansted were called to Mill Hill, Farnham, at 9.08am after the bus got trapped.

Six children were on board the bus at the time.

Leading firefighter Dave Morland said: “The bus was in a narrow lane and had stopped to let a lorry go the other way. The driver thought he had stopped in a large puddle but the water was deeper than he expected and he found himself in trouble.

“It seems as he waited, water entered the exhaust, causing the bus problems and the engine cut out leaving the driver and his six passengers stranded.

“We carried the children to the water bank, they were all very brave and we were pleased to get them safely out of their predicament quickly and safely. A local company took them into their office where they warmed up.”

Now Essex Fire Service is warning drivers not to take risks as it puts other people’s lives at risk.

Divisional officer Greg Keys said: “It is vital that motorists exercise a little common sense. Driving into water and hoping for the best is not an option, by the time you find out the water is too deep you are already trapped.

“Just a foot or two of water is enough to float a car and six inches of water will reach the bottom of most passenger cars; this depth can cause loss of control or possible stalling as water is sucked into the exhaust or washes into the air intake.

“When confronted with flood water the best thing to do is to find an alternative route. If there is no way round they should park safely and allow the water level to drop until it is safe to drive.

“Driving onto flood water and hoping for the best is not an option. Taking that kind of risk can be both dangerous and costly. You and your passengers could easily be swept away in water and once you are rescued the car will have suffered extensive damage which will be complex and costly to repair.”