Army brought in to tackle Birmingham bin strike mess

Army specialists have been called in to help tackle the mounting piles of rubbish on Birmingham's streets amid a month-long bin strike.

- ATHENA STAVROU

The all-out strike by refuse workers – which began on 11 March as part of a dispute over pay – has seen thousands of tonnes of rubbish go uncollected in the city.

The city council declared a major incident on 31 March, citing public health concerns, as residents say they have spotted rats the size of cats scurrying through the streets in broad daylight and complained of an overwhelming stench as black bin bags pour onto the street.

The worsening situation has now prompted the government to call in military planners to help tackle the crisis.