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The Independent UK
The Independent UK
Bryony Gooch

Birmingham plagued by rats ‘the size of cats’ as bin strike and HS2 blamed

Birmingham City Council brought in a £24 charge for rat control visits last year, which has been dubbed the ‘rat tax’ - (PA)

Rats the size of cats are plaguing parts of Birmingham, residents say, with the city’s ongoing strike by bin collectors and nearby construction work for HS2 among issues being blamed for the infestation.

Residents of Drews Lane, Washwood Heath, an area already known as a rat hotspot, have found rodents chewing through car cables and nesting in bonnets and wheelie bins.

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