E-scooter starts refuse lorry fire

Crews have issued safety advice after an e-scooter caused a fire in a refuse lorry.

We were called to Church Road, Basildon today at 9.36am and crews from Basildon (two) and Rayleigh Weir attended.

Council workers called 999 after a fire started in the lorry.

Station Manager Jason Gould said: "About 10% of the rubbish was alight but crews managed to remove the burning material and stop it from spreading to the vehicle.

"The fire was caused by an e-scooter which had been thrown out in someone's wheelie bin.

"Please do not dispose of lithium-ion batteries or any items containing them, such as e-scooters, in your general waste.

"Most recycling centres in Essex take them and you can find your nearest location online at loveessex.org."

According to the National Fire Chiefs Council there are more than 1,200 fires caused by discarded batteries in bin lorries and at waste sites in the UK each year.