TERRIFIED BIN LORRY CREW AMBUSHED BY AXE-WIELDING GANG IN VIOLENT ATTACK

Three axe-wielding men are being hunted by police after ambushing a bin lorry and attacking the council workers in their cab.

Neighbours reported hearing 'screeching tyres' before the three attackers jumped out of a car and targeted the bin wagon.

They smashed up the Stoke-on-Trent City Council bin lorry to leave three workers injured. One of them was taken to the Royal Stoke University Hospital with 'potentially serious injuries' by paramedics from West Midlands Ambulance Service.

The council suspended its bin collections yesterday following the attack, reports Stoke-on-Trent Live. They are expected to resume today.

Now neighbours on Birches Head Road in Stoke-on-Trent have described how the violence erupted on their street. A section of the road was cordoned off by Staffordshire Police.

One neighbour said: "There was a lad who was hit with an axe and had a towel round his head. It's awful, it makes the place feel on edge, you're not safe. It happened by the bus stop. That's where they parked and three men jumped out of the car."

Another neighbour added: "Someone who saw what happened said they saw a car and heard the wheels spinning. They said that the men had got axes. It's strange that they would just attack the bin men. It's frightening. You don't know who's involved, it's dead worrying. That's why we've had a Ring doorbell, people are just trying doors at night."

A spokesperson for Staffordshire Police said: "We were called to Birches Head Road at 11.47am this morning (March 21) following reports of violence. Three men were reportedly assaulted. A cordon has been set up at the scene and firearms officers are continuing to search the area after a weapon was reportedly sighted in the area. There is not believed to be any wider risk to the public at this time."

A West Midlands Ambulance Service spokesperson said: "We were called to reports of an assault on Birches Head Road at 11.48am. Two ambulances and a paramedic officer were sent to the scene where, on arrival, they discovered three male patients. One man was treated by ambulance staff for potentially serious injuries before being conveyed to hospital for further treatment. The two other patients were assessed and treated for minor injuries by medics but did not require hospital treatment and were discharged at the scene."

A Stoke-on-Trent City Council spokesperson said: "Bin collections have stopped for the day. There were not that many more to be collected but anyone affected, we would ask them to put the bin back out tomorrow. This should only affect a small amount of households."

2023-03-22T10:10:18Z dg43tfdfdgfd