The explosion was caused by a combustible item which exploded when it was crushed by the lorry’s impactor.

Commenting on a video of the incident, Cllr Alan Schneiderman, Barnet Council Cabinet Member for Environment and Climate Change said: ‘The video is incredibly shocking, and we’re relieved that the crew members escaped unharmed.

‘I hope this helps people to understand how important it is to properly recycle items such as gas canisters and bottles, batteries and aerosols, as on another day we might not have been so lucky.’

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