RATS have infected Bolton gardens as bins have not been collected for months.

Residents have complained that Bolton Council has not been collecting their waste.

Abbie Leadley, 22, lives in Ralph Street in Halliwell with her two young children. Ms Leavely says that her cardboard bin has not been emptied since December 4, and her glass and general waste bin have been emptied only once since.

Ms Leavely said: “I have rang the council at least four or five times. They said there’s nothing they can do.”

She admits that she did put styrofoam in her cardboard bin, but says she has made the council aware that it has been cleared.

A council spokesman said: “We have emptied the black bin a number of times since December 4. The recycling bins have not been emptied because non-recyclable items have been put in there a number of times.

"Unfortunately there is a huge cost to taxpayers when rubbish is rejected due to contamination. We also did go back out a few days ago to empty the recycling bins but they were not outside."

Residents of flats in Kent Court, close to Bolton town centre, have also seen rats appearing by their bins. They say their bins have not been collected for seven weeks. Hilda, 66, and Joseph Duker, 72, complained to the council in person but nothing has been done.

Mrs Duker said: “I look every morning to see and the pile is just getting higher and higher. I think it’s disgraceful.”

The council responded that the bins were "regularly overloaded". A council spokesman said: "We would like to apologise for any inconvenience."