THERE was rush hour chaos yesterday evening after a man was hit by a bus.

The double decker hit a 47-year-old man at 4.45pm in Grand Parade, Brighton, near the junction with Marlborough Place.

Emergency services rushed to the scene in front of the University of Brighton Grand Parade building.

Witnesses described hearing a loud thud as the Brighton and Hove Buses number 28 bus hit the pedestrian.

A first aider at a nearby office, 43, who asked not to be named, rushed to the scene.

He said: “I heard the bus hit the man. it was deep thud.

“I went over and assisted as I am a first aider.

“When I got there he was conscious. Then the ambulance and the police arrived.”

Caleb Spence, 38, of Grand Parade said: “I was walking down Grand Parade and I could see people getting of the bus.

“The guy that got hit was flat out.

“By the time an ambulance arrived he stood up with assistance and got on to the stretcher.

“I also saw bus passengers and the driver giving their accounts to police.”

Three police cars, one ambulance and one fast response paramedic car attended the scene. It is understood the man was hit while crossing the busy road leading leading to the Old Steine.

Police officers closed the bus lane, causing a build up of traffic in the remaining two lanes of Grand Parade.

Sussex Police said the man was taken to the Royal Sussex County Hospital in Brighton. His injuries are not thought to be serious.

The bus lane was reopened at around 5.30pm.

A Brighton and Hove Buses spokeswoman said: “A service 28 going towards Churchill Square has regrettably hit a pedestrian at the bottom of Edward Street.

“Unfortunately the man stepped out in front of the bus when the lights were green.”

She added that the police have accepted the bus driver was not at fault.