'Cat-sized rats are attacking our cars'

Refuse workers are set to begin an indefinite walk out as residents fear bin strikes are exacerbating a city's rat problem.

The Unite union said on Wednesday workers would begin indefinite strike action on 11 March, as people living on Drews Lane in Washwood Heath complain of large "cat-sized" rats.

People in the area said they are being left with repair bills due to the rodents chewing through car cables and nesting under bonnets.

Labour-run Birmingham City Council, which brought in a £24 charge for rat control visits last year, acknowledged missed collections had caused issues.

Residents have also attributed the problem to nearby HS2 construction work. HS2 said the health and safety of its workforce and the public was its "number one priority".

One resident told the BBC he had trapped 17 rats in two months while others have found infestations in wheelie bins.

Louise Baker, a mechanic from Tyseley, said customers had brought in their cars after rats had chewed through the wiring.

She told BBC Radio WM: "A few weeks ago I had a lady with a two-year-old Audi who had her engine management light on.

"I picked it up and saw that a rat had eaten through all the wiring.

"Last week my parent's neighbour was having a car collected. It had been sitting on their drive for three months. When I opened the bonnet I saw the rats had taken over. [They] had chewed everything under the bonnet."

Opposition parties have described the £24 charge as a "rat tax" but the authority said it was cheaper than neighbouring authorities.

"The rats are huge - they are like small cats and their tails are really chunky," said Kim Blakeman, who has lived on Drews Lane for 16 years.

"They are in and out of our recycling bins, and since HS2 has started across the road we've had more of an influx.

"The council don't bother litter picking our road anymore. People fly-tip, it's a perfect nesting site and the rats come and feed in our bins."

Teacher Mariya Malik contacted the BBC after a relative's car was damaged by rats chewing cables for a third time.

"The car wouldn't start and that cost us around £120. It's not a fortune but £120 when it's not your fault - it's quite upsetting," she said.

"When you sit in your car in the morning there is just so much anxiety, is it going to start or have the rats attacked again? Fly-tipping isn't helping, the bin strike hasn't helped."

Ms Malik's neighbour Ali said he had found a "rat's nest" on his car's battery.

Birmingham City Council acknowledged strike action had caused missed bin collections and said it would try to ensure every household got a collection once a week.

"We would like to thank residents for their understanding and patience during this period of industrial action. We apologise for the inconvenience caused," it said.

Addressing the charge for pest control, the council said the fee was lower than some neighbouring councils whilst residents were free to purchase control measures themselves.

HS2, which is building a control centre on Drews Lane, told the BBC: "The health and safety of our workforce and the public is HS2's number one priority.

"Enclosed waste skips are used for bagged waste and are emptied regularly, with weekly site inspections carried out to check waste management," a spokesperson added.

Planning approval for the Washwood Heath Depot was granted in 2023, with the site set to eventually become the main control hub for the whole HS2 network.

It will also serve as the main maintenance and storage facility for HS2's train fleet.

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