A dustcart went up in flames for the second time this week due to batteries being incorrectly dumped in refuse bags put out for collection.

The blaze happened just before 9am while the recycling wagon was doing the rounds between Farmhouse Close and Valley Road in Barham, Canterbury.

Nobody was injured but fire crews had to cut off the vehicle’s roof to get to the flames.

It’s the second fire refuse workers have had to deal with in a matter of days, after a car battery left in rubbish went up in flames days before.

A spokesperson from the city council’s waste contractor, Canenco said: “We strongly believe the fire was caused by a battery in the rubbish.

“This is the second such incident in only a few days – the last one was caused by someone chucking a full car battery into their waste.

“Yes, you did read that correctly – an actual car battery.

“We cannot state this enough – please do not put batteries (of any type) into your rubbish.

“When damaged, batteries have a tendency to explode or ignite.

“And when they are put in with the general rubbish or recycling, they’re likely to be crushed, compacted, smashed or they might get wet.

“The lithium will then set fire to the waste in the lorry.”

Batteries used for domestic purposes can be taken to local household waste recycling centres, supermarkets, electrical shops as well as certain libraries and schools.

Car batteries should be taken to the household waste recycling centres so they can be disposed of safely.

A spare hire vehicle had to be sent out to finish collections on the round.

Anyone whose recycling was not collected today should leave their bin out for tomorrow’s catch up crews to empty.

A spokesperson for the fire service said: “Two fire engines were called to the scene, where crews wearing breathing apparatus extinguished the fire using main jets and hose reel jets.

“It’s believed the fire was started by Lithium ion batteries.

“Crews are reminding people to recycle batteries via specialist recycling services, since some batteries can be a fire risk when disposed of incorrectly.”