Sutton Bridge Wombles highlight dangers of litter picking following trailer fire caused by e-cigarette and continue to find sex toys and nitrous oxide canisters dumped in A17 laybys

Sex toys, nitrous oxide canisters and some 700 e-cigarettes are some of the hazardous objects a dedicated pair of litter pickers have to dispose of safely.

Award-winning duo Andy Tilley and Deanne Gough, the Sutton Bridge Wombles, are keen to enlighten people about the dangers of disposing items irresponsibly after an e-cigarette sparked a fire in their trailer.

They tirelessly clean laybys on the busy stretch of the A17 between Sutton Bridge and Long Sutton - and although they take it all in their stride with good humour, some dangerous objects dumped in the laybys have caused serious incidents.

Deanne said: “Andy’s trailer caught fire because of an electronic cigarette during a scrap metal collection - two fire engines saturated the trailer and he was escorted off the motorway.

“There are real dangers in nitrous oxide canisters being discarded on the roads.

“We stopped to pick one up (from the road) and a large vehicle caught it, hurling it into the air and just missing a passing car’s windscreen.”

Andy was taken by fire officers to a safe place to tip the load off the trailer - which was still smoking after the fire engines had soaked it. The incident happened in April 2022.

He said: The trailer was on fire and I was stopped by traffic officers near Birmingham between Junction 2 and 3.

“It was caused by a small lithium battery and they called the fire brigade.

“It is a bit frightening when there is smoke coming out of your trailer.”

Andy and Deanne, who have been litter picking for the last five years, collect hundreds of canisters and vapes from the area which they store in safety bins.

They always contact South Holland District Council for advice on how to get rid of them safely.

The couple often find an array of sex toys of all colours, shapes and sizes during their litter picks - and all of these have to be disposed of safely.

Deanne added: “We do find some weird and wonderful items being left in our area.

“The adult toys have always been found and the last lot certainly caused a laugh - and a talking point.

“As were the strap-on breasts we found a couple of months ago.”

Items that are thrown away into fields like vapes or canisters could pose serious issues if the batteries set on fire.

The couple have recently found a ukulele.

Coun Jack Tyrell, portfolio holder for environmental services feels understands that customers who buy vapes are unlikely to travel to take them to a recycling centre that may be miles away.

He said: “I feel it would be a good idea for shops that sell vapes to have a drop-off point to bring used vapes back.

“The shop keepers sell them so it is putting a bit of responsibility back to them to dispose of them safely.”

A spokesperson for South Holland District Council added: “Vapes, e-cigarettes or anything waste related that contains batteries cannot be placed in any household waste sack or bin.

“These can be disposed of at your local Household Waste Recycling Centre.”

You can find out more here https://www.lincolnshire.gov.uk/recycling-waste

The couple were recently presented with a Citizens of the Year award from South Holland District and parish councillors to recognise five years of volunteering

Further information about waste disposal can be found on South Holland District Council’s website https://www.sholland.gov.uk/article/5802/Waste-guidance

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