Residents under Tandridge borough council are being reminded not to put batteries into their rubbish or recycling bins.

It follows on from a large fire to one of the council’s collection vehicles after a lithium battery went up in flames, resulting in over seventeen thousand pounds worth of damage.

As well as batteries, gas canisters and helium tanks can also explode and cause fire inside the vehicle, which creates risk to the safety of the collection crew and fire service.