Edinburgh clean-up begins as refuse collections resume

City's waste workers return to work but Scotland's cleansing and education sectors face strikes next week

A clean-up operation has begun in Edinburgh as waste and cleansing services resume after nearly two weeks of strike action by workers resulted in mountains of rubbish and public health warnings.

The city's waste workers, who began striking on 18 August as part of a nationwide dispute over pay, returned to work on Tuesday in the Scottish capital. Huge piles of bin bags and takeaway waste have accumulated in many streets, attracted rats, mice and seagulls and left some thoroughfares impassible as visitor numbers in the city centre peaked for August's arts and fringe festivals.