TWO binmen had a lucky escape when their lorry burst into a massive fireball.

Adam Mayo and his colleague Damian Jones were working in Stryt Maelor, Bwlchgwyn, when they smelled burning coming from their wagon.

The men got out to see smoke billowing from the bottom of the lorry which was quickly followed by flames.

Mr Mayo said: “We were out on our collection when we noticed the smell. We got out to look for what was wrong, that’s when we saw the smoke.”

Firefighters were quickly on the scene but the cab was totally destroyed.

They cut into the back of the vehicle to fight the blaze which is thought to have been started by an electrical fault.

Environment Agency officers checked to make sure there was no risk of pollution as a result of the incident.

Police had to close roads while firefighters brought the blaze under control.

One resident who saw the drama unfold, said: “The two men in the wagon really were very lucky to get out when they did. The flames were really big. I also heard bangs which I think were the tyres exploding.”

The blaze bordered the garden area of Patricia Pepper-Evans.

Mrs Pepper-Evans said her house had previously been badly damaged as the result of a fire starting in a bedroom eight years ago. She was afraid the flames from the truck could spread along the fence to her home and set the property alight.

“Fortunately that didn’t happen. The fire service were here quickly and did a very good job. I don’t know the full extent of the damage to the garden yet. I have lost trees and there were birds nesting in there.”