Bin collection strike Out and about with the rat catcher in Birmingham

"They're not fussy," said Martin Curry, describing the far from epicurean appetites of the scurrying rodents that Brummies fear could flood the streets of their city.

- Sammy Gecsoyler

"Rats have their own personal tastes, but if food is scarce they'll eat anything," he added. Curry runs MC Environmental pest control in Birmingham and has been dubbed the 'rat king'. He is on the frontline of stamping out the city's rodent threat amid a weeks-long refuse collectors' strike that has meant bins piling up on the streets.

Business has been booming as a result of the strike. "I'm getting a lot more callouts for rats especially," Curry said. "It normally drops off at this time of year, because the weather's getting warmer and the rats spend a lot more time outside."

On a balmy spring day, Curry gave the Guardian a whistlestop tour, beginning on the outskirts of the city centre where bin bags and broken furniture were heaped on the side of the road.

Pointing to an armchair split in two surrounded by bits of food, he said: "This is ideal for them. There's a food source and it's easy for them to hide because of the furniture."