People have been warned not to discard batteries in their waste bin after a refuse lorry caught alight.

Around £3,000 worth of damage was done to one of Gravesham council's vehicles while out on a collection.

The fire broke out in one of the council's waste freighters close to its depot.

No crew were hurt by the blaze and it was dealt with quickly after returning to the site.

It was a lucky escape for staff and the council, with the local authority facing a £200,000 bill to replace the vehicle if it was destroyed.

A council spokesman said: "Please never place household batteries in your general waste bin.

"This is what happened after discarded domestic batteries sparked a fire in one of our general waste collection vehicles.

"You can recycle your household batteries with your kerbside collection.

"Simply place them in a small clear plastic bag on top of your bin/sacks on your usual refuse or recycling collection day.

"Our collection crews will then put them into a storage box inside the vehicle cab."