Birmingham residents are living among 17,000 tonnes of uncollected rubbish as the ongoing bin strikes transform parts of the city into what locals describe as a "war zone".
A major incident was declared this week by Birmingham City Council after industrial action left mountains of waste piled high across the streets.
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Members of the Unite union have been on all-out strike since March 11 in a dispute over pay and job losses.
Residents say the row has left many areas resembling a "third world country" with serious concerns now growing about public health.
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Industrial action has left mountains of waste piled high across the streets
PA
The situation has left many Brummies fearing for their health as the crisis deepens
PA
Shocking photos have shown mountains of filthy fly-tipped rubbish and overflowing bin bags strewn across England's second city.
The situation has left many Brummies fearing for their health as the crisis deepens.
Locals have previously reported "rats the size of cats" scurrying around their neighbourhoods.
Stray cats and foxes are also tearing open bags in search of food, worsening the situation.
The city's "rat man" - pest control expert Will Timms - said his phone is ringing off the hook.
The owner of WJ Pest Solutions told the i Paper he is "absolutely shattered" after working non-stop for two-and-a-half months.
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Stray cats and foxes are also tearing open bags in search of food, worsening the situation
PA
Unite Union has warned that bin disruption could stretch into the summerPA"There's a real sense of disbelief about the scale of what's happening here. I've been doing this for 11 years, and I've never seen anything like this," he said.
"The rats are not only getting bigger, but they're also getting bolder, venturing into people's homes and even destroying cars."
Dad-of-two Emil Laursen, 34, of Balsall Heath, said bankrupt Birmingham was becoming a "joke" as the bin strike chaos continued.
"We can't believe it has been allowed to get to this point, it has become a public health issue for sure," he said. "We are fast transforming into a third world city. The place is becoming a joke."
Mazar Dad, a former senior manager at a Birmingham waste depot, described the situation as "appalling".
The council claimed actions on the picket line had been blocking contingency vehicles from collecting what rubbish they could
PAMumtaz Khadim, a butcher at Al Bodr supermarket in Balsall Heath, added: "It's no good for the health plus, we have children here going to school and they have to see all this."
Birmingham City Council said they declared a major incident following "rising concerns of risks to public health and damage to our environment".
The council claimed actions on the picket line had been blocking contingency vehicles from collecting what rubbish they could.
Council leader John Cotton said: "I respect the right to strike and protest, however actions on the picket line must be lawful."
Unite union responded by calling the declaration an "attempt to crush any opposition to attacks on jobs, pay and conditions".
General secretary Sharon Graham said: "Birmingham council could easily resolve this dispute but instead it seems hellbent on imposing its plan of demotions and pay cuts at all costs."
She added that Unite "will never accept attacks on our members" and would continue to defend Birmingham's refuse workforce.
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