Sleaford bin lorry fire prompts battery safety warning

The remains of a lithium-ion battery that sparked a blaze in a bin lorry in Newton near Sleaford

Lincolnshire residents are being urged to take extra care when disposing of batteries after a fire in a bin lorry.

A crew from North Kesteven District Council (NKDC) was forced to tip rubbish onto the road in Newton, near Sleaford, after noticing a burning smell coming from their vehicle.

Lincolnshire Fire and Rescue Service said the cause of the blaze on 13 November was a lithium-ion battery.

The battery ignited when it was crushed, investigators said.

Nina Camm, the council's Street Scene manager, said: "Our very simple plea to customers is not to put any battery, electrical item or vape into any household waste bin, or indeed any waste bin. We have seen here how easily they can cause a fire and I ask you, please do not put the safety of our crews at risk."

Electronic items and batteries can be recycled safely at household waste recycling centres, the council said.

Batteries can also be taken to recycling points in supermarkets and other shops that sell them, it added.