LONDON - Three people have died and two others been seriously injured after their car collided with a bus in south east London, Scotland Yard said.

All five were travelling in a Peugeot 106 which hit the single decker bus near the junction of Little Heath and Cemetery Lane in Charlton at around 6:30 a.m.

The three victims -- two females and one male -- were pronounced dead at the scene.

The others, a male and a female, were cut free by fire officers and taken to hospital. There were not believed to be any injuries among those travelling on the bus.

The families of the victims were being informed, police said.