An investigation is under way after a bus was stuck for three hours following a crash.

The Purple Line First Bus struck Harleston's town square monument in Market Place and became impaled on the stonework. 

Remaining stuck for more than three hours, one of the bus' side panels was crumpled and nearly torn off, exposing the vehicle's internals. 

Beccles & Bungay Journal: The bus hit the monument around 5.45pmThe bus hit the monument around 5.45pm (Image: Joke Ivens)

Beccles & Bungay Journal: A side panel was nearly torn off in the crashA side panel was nearly torn off in the crash (Image: Lesley Earl)

A First Eastern Counties spokeswoman said: "We are aware that an incident involving one of our vehicles took place in Harleston last Thursday.

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"An investigation is under way into the cause of the incident."

Beccles & Bungay Journal: The bus was not cleared from the square for more than three hoursThe bus was not cleared from the square for more than three hours (Image: Lesley Earl)

Pictures of the crash, which happened at 5.45pm, were posted to social media where one commenter said: "You wouldn't believe the amount of vehicles that park on the double yellows right on that corner.

"It makes it incredibly hard for long vehicles to get around the corner."

The bus was recovered and the monument was not damaged.