A pile of household rubbish was left in Wollaton Park after smoke was seen coming from the back of a bin lorry.
Visitors had spotted the pile of rubbish in one of the car parks in Wollaton Park on Wednesday morning (May 22).
The lorry was carrying a full load of household waste through Wollaton on Wednesday when smoke was spotted coming from the back of the vehicle.
To prevent the fire from spreading and engulfing the lorry, the rubbish was unloaded quickly in the nearest safe location.
The driver stayed with the unloaded rubbish in Wollaton Park to ensure the fire didn't spread.
Nottingham City Council confirmed that the cause of the smoke was a disposable barbecue which was not put out correctly before being placed in a wheelie bin.
Arrangements were made for the rubbish to be collected and the area cleaned this morning (Thursday May 23).
Dave Halstead, director of neighbourhood services at Nottingham City Council said: “A crew carrying a full load of household waste was driving through Wollaton on Wednesday morning when smoke appeared from the back of the vehicle.
"It later became clear that the cause was a disposable barbecue which had been placed inside a wheelie bin.
“Instances like this are rare but given the risk of a fire spreading and engulfing the lorry, it is protocol to unload the rubbish as quickly as possible in the next available and safe location.
"As the crew was driving past Wollaton Park at the time, the decision was taken to divert there. The driver stayed with the load for 20 minutes to ensure the fire was out and hadn’t spread, before arrangements were made for it to be collected and the area cleaned.
“We would urge people to think carefully about what they place in their bins. Anything which is either flammable or combustible must be properly extinguished before it is thrown away.”
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