The lives of binmen are being put at risk by dangerous driving, warns Canterbury City Council.

A "shocking" video released by the authority shows a car mounting the pavement to overtake a bin lorry, narrowly missing a binman.

The council issued the footage to encourage drivers to be careful when overtaking bin lorries.

Strategic contracts and commissions manager Sarah Randall said: “Quite frankly, if you happen to be briefly delayed by a collection crew as they go about their work, it’s tough.

“Our crews have the right to go about their work safely and all have friends, families and partners to go home to at the end of the working day.

“For the sake of shaving a couple of seconds off your journey, it simply can’t be worth risking potentially killing or seriously injuring someone and ending up in prison.

“Could you live with your conscience and look their loved one in the eye for the sake of a moment of impulsive idiocy?”

Vehicles operated by Serco - the council's waste collection contractor - are fitted with 360-degree cameras to capture images such as these. The council says footage of incidents, along with evidence statements, is sent to police to take action.

The council has joined forces with 13 others from around the county along with Kent Police to launch the Driving Recklessly On Pavements campaign. The initiative aims to encourage drivers to remain patient, and raises awareness of the dangers faced by crews.

David Currie, head of traffic prosecutions for Kent Police, said: “Rule 145 of the Highway Code states ‘you must not drive on or over a pavement, footpath or bridleway except to gain lawful access to property, or in the case of an emergency’.

“Therefore, it is unacceptable to drive on the pavement to pass a recycling and waste vehicle to save just a few seconds off your journey.

“People need to think about the consequences of their actions – if they choose to drive on the pavement they not only risk prosecution but more importantly they put themselves and others at risk of serious injury or worse.”

Drivers approaching bin lorries are advised to slow down, stay back and look out for crew members - overtaking only if it is safe to do so.