Local councils have shared an urgent warning to residents after a fire in a bin lorry last week.

Residents in Warwick and Stratford-on-Avon are being warned of the potential dangers disposable barbecues can pose after a recycling lorry caught fire in King Johns Road, Kineton last Wednesday (June 7).

It appears a disposable barbecue had been put into a blue-lidded recycling bin, which then ignited and caused a fire in the back of the vehicle.

Over four tonnes of recycling then had to be tipped in the road where the firefighters extinguished it.

The crew were unhurt, and the vehicle was not damaged but the situation could have been so much worse.

Cllr Lorraine Grocott, environmental and neighbourhood services portfolio holder at Stratford-on-Avon District Council said: "This incident is extremely concerning and put a number of people at risk.

"I would like to take this opportunity to remind District residents of the importance of disposing of waste properly and advise people to follow the instructions on the disposable barbecues of how you can safely dispose of them."

Disposable barbecues and hot coals can take up to 48 hours to fully cool so the public need to ensure they are left for that period or are cooled by soaking them in water. Once cold, they can be disposed of in the general waste.

For more information please visit the council website.