More than 500 litres of water had to be used to put out a fire that risked setting the nearby beach cafe alight when a hot barbecue was carelessly thrown into a bin full of cardboard. 

Fire services were called to the Poldhu Beach Cafe near Mullion on Thursday after a barbecue was disposed of by a member of the public in the cafe's cardboard bin.

The cafe has now thanked firefighters at Mullion Fire Station after they attended the fire quickly. 

In a post published on its social media profile, Poldhu Beach Cafe claimed that, without the swift action of the fire service, the cafe could have caught fire.

The cafe also said that over 500 litres of water had been required to put out the bin blaze.

Falmouth Packet: The bin which caught fire. Picture: Poldhu Beach CafeThe bin which caught fire. Picture: Poldhu Beach Cafe

In its post on social media, Poldhu Beach Cafe said: "Some really kind individual decided to put a hot BBQ in our cardboard recycling bin this evening after we had closed!

"Passersby rang 999 when they saw smoke billowing out of the bin!!

"Without the kindness of the public and the Fire Brigade, the beach cafe could have caught on fire as the bins are close to the building.

Falmouth Packet: The fire crew at Mullion Fire Station. Picture: Poldhu Beach CafeThe fire crew at Mullion Fire Station. Picture: Poldhu Beach Cafe

"Thank you so much to the guys at Mullion Fire Station for acting so quickly and putting out the fire.

"Sorry for wasting your time for the mindless act of one idiot!

"Over 500 litres of water was needed to put it out."