A bus company worker was praised for his bravery after fire destroyed eight coaches early on Sunday morning.

Vehicles worth £500,000 were burned out at Jeff's coach depot at Helmdon, near Banbury, but the damage would have been worse but for the firm's night duty manager Bill Grendall, and the alertness of a village resident.

The resident raised the alarm at around 2am when she saw flames leaping from the bus garages in Old Station Yard. Mr Grendall dashed from Banbury and drove seven coaches away from the danger area.

Brackley firefighters were already there trying to douse the flames.

Jeff's general manager Dick Winter, said: "Bill bravely moved the seven buses to safety but we still lost eight -- including two that were less than a year old. Fire investigators and scenes of crime officers have been here, but the damage is so bad that they could not pinpoint the cause. It could have been an electrical fault, arson, or a prank that went wrong."

Mr Winter added: "We are fully insured and there will be no long term problems -- just a few short term difficulties."