bin strike rats fear

Birmingham could be overrun by a plague of giant rats due to piles of rubbish after three-week strike

Uncollected city rubbish leads to fears of giant rat plague

Sun Reporter

Published: 2:42, 29 Jul 2017
Updated: 10:29, 29 Jul 2017

BRITAIN’S second biggest city could be overrun by a plague of giant rats amid a bin collection strike, pest controllers fear.

They warn piles of rubbish uncollected from thousands of Birmingham homes make the perfect eating and breeding ground for the rodents.

The rubbish has not been collected for three weeks — The rubbish has not been collected for three weeksCredit: BPM Media

Mountains of rubbish has accumulated since binmen began a strike in Birmingham — Mountains of rubbish has accumulated since binmen began a strike in BirminghamCredit: Caters News Agency

Cherrywood Road in Small Heath has turned into what could be Britain's filthiest street — Cherrywood Road in Small Heath has turned into what could be Britain's filthiest streetCredit: Caters News Agency

Furious residents are complaining that their streets have been overrun by rats and maggots — Furious residents are complaining that their streets have been overrun by rats and maggotsCredit: Caters News Agency

More than 50 lorry crews have been drafted in to begin the huge clear-up after three weeks of industrial action by the city’s binmen.

But the dispute over changes to working practices is set to be extended into September after a breakdown in talks with the council.

Residents already claim to have seen rats running across the city.

Matthew Bowater told Mail Online: "Monday is our bin day but they haven’t been collected for five weeks.

“I have seen rats in the street.

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“I supported the binmen and their reasons for striking before but my sympathy is waning now.”

On Monday disgusting pictures emerged showing swarms of wriggling maggots crawling on overflowing bin bags in a residential street.

Revolting video footage shows the bugs crawling over a tower of at least 20 black bags left out for collection.

Huge piles of festering trash has been left on the pavements — Huge piles of festering trash has been left on the pavementsCredit: Caters News Agency

Maggots have been spotted crawling in the rubbish — Maggots have been spotted crawling in the rubbishCredit: Caters News Agency

Rubbish piles high in Birmingham as binmen go on strike over working conditions — Rubbish piles high in Birmingham as binmen go on strike over working conditionsCredit: BPM Media

Dog handler Rafi Gul, 25, said: “I’ve never lived anywhere so disgusting and I’m too embarrassed to invite friends or family round.

“It’s worry now that the schools are breaking up for summer."

Birmingham City Council has responded to the ongoing industrial dispute by using agency labour and contractors to remove built-up waste from pavements.

But Town Hall bosses have admitted it will take some time to clear the backlog and restore services to normal.

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Topics

Birmingham