Startling visuals capture the presence of large rats roaming the streets of Birmingham as the city marks the anniversary of the bin worker strikes.

Exactly a year ago, a widespread strike began, severely impacting Birmingham’s waste collection services and resulting in towering piles of garbage throughout the city.

Initially dubbed ‘Squeaky Blinders,’ the oversized rats were first sighted during the onset of the strike. However, a year later, these rodent pests continue to scurry through Birmingham. Images of rabbit-sized rats darting around heaps of refuse in Small Heath, Birmingham, surfaced on Wednesday night.

The labor dispute was triggered last year following proposed pay reductions and job alterations by the council, including the elimination of the Waste Recycling and Collection Office position. The Unite union argued that this modification endangered workers and led to potential annual losses of up to £8,000 for some employees, although this claim has faced challenges.

The council countered by asserting that the role in question was non-existent, and negotiations between the council and the union deteriorated last year.

An enormous rat captured amidst rubbish in Small Heath, Birmingham

A vigilant cat prowls beside an overflowing bin in search of rodent prey

A rat the size of a rabbit seen in Birmingham on Wednesday night

An extensive mound of waste observed in Henry Barber Park in the city, on Monday

A starling pecking at rubbish in Balsall Heath, Birmingham, in April 2025

A glove providing a chilling size comparison with a rat, in April 2025

Individuals disposing of garbage at a mobile refuse collection service in April 2025