Battery recycling plea after bin lorry fire

No one was injured in the fire which is believed to have been caused by a battery or vape

Householders are being urged to dispose of batteries safely after a bin lorry caught fire while collecting rubbish.

Cumberland Council has made the plea following the blaze in Warwick Road, in Carlisle on Friday.

The local authority said it believed the fire was sparked by a battery or vape which had been put in a regular, household bin.

It is urging residents to dispose of batteries at designated waste recycling centres.

Two fire engines attended the blaze and spent 30 minutes at the scene.

A spokesperson for Cumberland Council said staff had spotted smoke coming out of the back of the vehicle while it was loading a bin.

The lorry was taken back to the depot, where it was checked and found not to be damaged.

The three crew members were not hurt, the council said.

"While the working assumption is that the incident was most likely caused by a battery, it could have also been a vape or other item with a battery inside it," the spokesperson added.

"To prevent such incidents, we urge residents to practice responsible waste disposal, sorting, and recycling."

Local battery collection points can be found on the Recycle More website.