Bins set alight on Liverpool street ‘infested with rats’

Several bins were set alight on a Liverpool road hit by fly-tipping and reports of a rat infestation.

Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service was called to Silvester Street in Vauxhall three times between 19:00 and 22:36 BST on Monday following reports that several purple bins were on fire.

Local resident Maisie Wilson said fly-tipping had been an issue in the area “for some time” and that Liverpool City Council had done “nothing” despite sightings of rats.

The council said it responded to “all reports of fly-tipping” and condemned the fires as “incredibly dangerous vandalism”.

Another local resident, who wished to remain anonymous, said the issue with bins and rats on Silvester Street had been ongoing for some time.

“The rat situation has become very evident even in the middle of the day and the bins are infested with them,” she told the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

“You can see kids screaming when they’re going past it. All weekend, the rats were just rampant over the bins and people were obviously terrified and screaming on the street.”

A council spokesperson said: “Any damaged bins reported to the council will be replaced.

“Responding to and clearing illegally dumped rubbish costs the council approximately £1m a year, which could be spent on other vital services.

“Rubbish should never be left on the streets as this can attract unwanted pests such as rats.”