Drains blocked-off in Westward Ho! bin lorry blaze to stop pollution

Firefighters spread the burning waste over the road so it could be dampened down and extinguished using hoses

Drains were blocked-off by fire crews to prevent water pollution after a bin lorry caught fire in Devon.

Firefighters were called to a "well alight" container in Westward Ho! at about 09:20 GMT on Tuesday, Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service said.

The drains were blocked-off to stop run-off from entering them.

The burning refuse was spread "over the highway to allow dampening down and digging out to extinguish the fire," the service said.

Waste from the bin lorry on the ground was scooped up by a digger and loaded on to another truck to be taken away, an eyewitness told the BBC.

Crews from four fire stations were involved in the operation and the Environment Agency was informed, it added.

The vehicle was "slightly damaged by heat" but it was "mostly the refuse that was on fire", firefighters said.

The incident was left with representatives from Torridge District Council and closed by Tuesday evening.