UNITE has accused bin lorry manufacturer Terberg of the “worst kind of opportunism” after it emerged that it has been charging councils thousands for a safety upgrade it said would be fitted for free after a worker was crushed to death.

The company was ordered to improve safeguards on thousands of lorries across the country by a coroner after the tragic death in January 2023 of David Carpenter, a 60-year-old Coventry City Council refuse worker and Unite member.