THIS was the damage caused after a council road sweeper went up in flames yesterday.
St Helens Council has issued a warning over disposable vapes and batteries after the incident happened in Thatto Heath on Monday afternoon, September 16.
The local authority said that "thankfully no staff or residents were injured by the blaze."
The Star reported on a similar incident in July last year when a road sweeper caught fire in St Helens.
In a statement, St Helens Borough Council said: "This is the damage inflicted by littering disposable vapes and batteries.
"It follows a similar event last year, and the recent fire in one of our household waste collection vehicles.
"This is not a theoretical concern; it's a real-world danger, as these pictures make painfully clear.
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"Fortunately, no staff or residents were injured by the blaze that broke out in one of our street sweepers in Thatto Heath yesterday afternoon.
"Always dispose of batteries and vapes safely - most supermarkets have battery recycling points, or you can take them to your local Merseyside Recycling and Waste Authority recycling Centre."
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