Binmen escape fireball as truck's engine ignites

THIS is the moment a fireball consumed a council recycling truck, just minutes after three binmen escaped with their lives.

The vehicle went up in flames near the village of Mey, in Caithness, a few miles from John o' Groats.

Driver Hugh Duncan spoke of the incident, describing it as "one of the scariest moments of my life".

Mr Duncan and colleagues David Robertson and Ray Falconer leapt from their cab after they smelled smoke, about half a mile from the village. It was then that Mr Duncan spotted flames coming from below the engine, feet away from the diesel tank.

Just minutes later the fuel tank exploded and plumes of black smoke and flames belched from the truck.

The vehicle, which was laden with around four tonnes of recycling material, including cardboard, paper, tins cans and plastic bottles, was destroyed in the ensuing blaze.

Highland Council's waste management officer Kenny Gow said the cause of last Friday morning's incident was not yet known but he stressed vehicles were checked every four weeks. Firefighters from Thurso and John o' Groats attended the scene.