One person has died and two others injured after a bus crashed into a Halifax bank in Darlington, Durham Police said.

Police said the victim, an elderly woman, was a pedestrian and had been hit when the Arriva bus mounted the pavement in Northgate at around 10.50am, before smashing into the front of the bank.

Two others, also pedestrians, were injured and have been taken to hospital. Their injuries are not thought to be life-threatening.

The driver of the bus, a 52-year-old man, has been arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving, police added.

One witness at the scene told the Northern Echo that the number 2 bus had been parked up on the side of the road, before pulling out suddenly and "going straight into the bank".

"It was absolutely shocking, I'm still shaking now," they added.

Durham Police Ch Insp Graham Milne urged witnesses to call officers as soon as possible.

"This is a tragic incident and I would like to extend my condolences to the deceased's family," he added.

A County Durham and Darlington Fire and Rescue Service said the incident was ongoing.

"It was a report that an Arriva 50-seater bus had gone into the front of a Halifax on Northgate in Darlington," she said.

"We deployed four fire appliances - two from Darlington station, one from Newton Aycliffe and one from Bishop Auckland. We sent a special rescue unit which is for a certain level of incident which supports our crews. The air ambulance is in attendance."

Road closures are in place while emergency services are at the scene.