Waste collection vehicles drained of diesel in Shaftesbury

In the midst of a national fuel crisis, four brand new waste collection vehicles, owned by Dorset Council, were drained of diesel in Shaftesbury, causing a 'massive strain' on the service.

A member of staff who works at the depot arrived at work on Monday morning and was greeted by the strong smell of diesel. They then found that four vehicles, which had been fitted with anti-syphon tanks in an attempt to avoid fuel theft, had been drained after the tops of the tanks were broken open.

A spokesman for the Shaftesbury depot said: "On arrival to the Shaftesbury depot at 05.30am on Monday morning, I was greeted to a strong stench of diesel. Being pitch black dark, I could not see any obvious leads to the smell.

"The first of the operatives arrived to perform vehicle checks before leaving the depot, only to find that, at some point over the weekend, the depot had been broken into and four of our brand new vehicles had their diesel tanks drained completely of fuel.

"This not being bad enough, the new vehicles are fitted with anti-syphon tanks so these mindless criminals decided to break the tops of the tanks open to obtain the diesel.

The fuel tanks were broken open Picture: Dorset Council

"The loss of diesel was bad enough but to damage the tanks at the same time then put these vehicles off the road for a couple of days whilst the parts had to be sourced and fitted by our workshop.

"This put a massive strain on our service with rounds having to be cancelled as we did not have enough vehicles to cover the shortfall.

"We then had to deal with the calls and members of the public walking into the depot complaining that their waste had not been collected, most understood the situation once told but some just did not get it and complained that this is the council just making excuses.

Waste collection vehicles drained of diesel in Shaftesbury Picture: Dorset Council

"So draining and upsetting at the same time when I know that we have all worked flat out to 'make do and mend' just to get the negative responses. I know I should not take this break-in personally but I do, being at this depot for 25 years now I class this as my second home.

"A big shout out to the collection teams at Shaftesbury for helping out this week and for the operatives that have now given up their weekend to play catch-up its appreciated."