Residents are being asked to dispose of their rubbish in bins and not dump it on street corners and alleyways.

Videos shared in Blackburn show rats scurrying into and out of half opened rubbish bags.

The rodents were filmed at night on Cherry Street and another shows how the rodents seem to have set up home in a shed on Pankhurst Close, near Royal Blackburn Hospital.

Cllr Altaf ‘Tiger’ Patel said he was getting calls about rodent infestations regularly and was sent the videos this week.

He said: “I would urge people to take extra case when disposing of their rubbish. If you leave it out this will happen.

“Also, some people are leaving food, especially rice and chapati outside for birds. This is going to attract rats. Please do not do this.

“The bins are also overflowing. A lot people are ringing me about this all the time near Audley Range and now other wards.

“Another big problem is people sitting in their cars at night then disposing of their fast food onto the street. Just take the waste home with you. This is what is going to happen.”

One resident of the area told us: “This is all because some people are dumping their bin bags on the street without any care. You can see how quickly the rodents circle and take over the rubbish. 

“It is like they are roaming the streets looking for rubbish. The hot weather has made things worse in my opinion.”