Two stuck double-decker buses brought traffic chaos to one of Norfolk's busiest seaside resorts this lunchtime.

Vehicles were trying to reverse and queues built up in central Cromer as first one Sanders bus broke down and then a second became trapped as it went on a narrow street detour to avoid its out-of-action sister.

The first bus got into difficulties as it rounded the corner from Church Street into Mount Street, at about 11.30am. Among frustrated casualties was the popular Cromer Road Runner tourist train, pulling two carriages, which found its way blocked by the stricken bus and was unable to reverse.

Traffic coming down the Norwich Road was diverted via St Margaret's Road and Cambridge Street back into Mount Street, but that route proved too narrow for a Sheringham-bound Sanders bus.

As it tried to negotiate the turn from Cambridge Street, it found the bend too tight because of a parked car on the corner of Mount Street, and scaffolding on a building directly opposite.

Among passengers who began pouring off the wedged number 44 were two women from Norwich who had hoped to visit Sheringham. 'It looks like we'll be staying in Cromer instead!' one of them said.

Melanie Pointer, who was working in taxi firm A1 Cabs, on Church Street, said the incident had created chaos.

'I've been trying to talk to our cars on the radio and come out into the street to direct other vehicles away from here,' she said. 'Fortunately, our drivers know all the little back roads and can work their way around the problem. It couldn't have happened at a busier time - midday on a Saturday.'

The wedged bus had moved away by 12.10pm and the broken-down vehicle was fixed at about 12.45pm.