A couple, whose home in Holmer Green was destroyed after a bus ploughed into it just days before Christmas, have spoken out about their terrifying ordeal.

Barry and Sylvia Evans, both 67, were in the house in Wycombe Road at the time, with Mrs Evans putting up their Christmas tree in the living room minutes before the horror crash, which left five people injured.

Speaking about the devastating moment, Mr Evans said: “My wife was in the bay window putting up the Christmas tree.

“She went towards the back of the room to turn on the lights to see if they worked, and then went through to the dining area, when it crashed. It was terrifying.

“I was upstairs at the time – I’ve never come down the stairs so quickly in my life. It wasn’t a very pleasant experience at all.”

Emergency services were called out to the scene after the single-decker Carousel bus smashed into the house at around 2.30pm on Saturday, December 17, causing serious damage.

Mr Evans, who has been staying at a hotel in High Wycombe with his wife since December 20, told the Bucks Free Press the house was declared dangerous and they were urged not to go in to collect their possessions in case it collapsed.

It is now feared they might not be able to move back until at least September or October this year, and will, instead, be forced to move into rented accommodation in Holmer Green, arranged by their insurance company.

He said: “All of our possessions are still in the house, but no-one is allowed to go in.

“We have had to buy everything new – clothes, shoes, everything. My wife was walking around Wycombe town in her slippers on the Sunday because we didn’t have anything.”

The retired couple spent Christmas and New Year with their family.

Mr Evans added: “The insurance company have said they don’t know how long before anyone can get into the house [to see the damage].

“We are moving into the flat next week. It will keep us in our normal routine at least, which is good.

“Our retirement has been ruined by this.”

The bus driver, who had been with the High Wycombe-based company for 16 months and had a good record, has been “relieved of driving duties” while an investigation is underway.

Police said he may have had a “medical episode”.