Edinburgh faces rat surge due to refuse workers’ strike, warn heritage leaders

Strike over pay leaves city centre bins overflowing, disrupting arts festivals and providing food for vermin

Heritage leaders have warned that Edinburgh faces a surge in rat infestations after a refuse workers' strike resulted in mountains of food waste, overflowing bins and rubbish accumulating in the city centre.

The city's refuse workers started a 12-day strike last week in an attempt to force Scottish council leaders to improve on a derisory" 3% pay offer, with the industrial action timed to hit Edinburgh's fringe and arts festivals, when visitor numbers peak in the city centre.