Emergency services have been called out to multiple fires on the same street as ‘rat-infested bins’ burned throughout the night.

Local residents reported three separate incidents as fire tore through purple bins at the end of a road in Vauxhall.

A local resident, who wished to remain anonymous, said the issue with the bins and rats on Silvester Street has been ongoing for some time, adding: “The rat situation has become very evident even in the middle of the day and the bins are infested with them.

Bins on fire on Silvester Street in Vauxhall | Handout/LDRS

placeholder image — Bins on fire on Silvester Street in Vauxhall | Handout/LDRS

“You can see kids screaming when they’re going past it. All weekend, the rats were just rampant over the bins and people were obviously terrified and screaming on the street.

“At about eight o’clock last night, the bins were burning, but I think it had happened many hours before that. The fire brigade came out and then they came back out and the bins were still burning.”

Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service (MFRS) confirmed it attended ‘multiple incidents’ on Silvester Street, Liverpool, on the evening of August 11. A spokesperson for MFRS said: “Crews were alerted to the first incident at 19.07 following reports of multiple bin fires.

“One fire engine arrived on scene at 19.12 and extinguished the fires using a hose reel jet.

“Crews were later called to the same address at 22.33 following reports of another rubbish fire. One fire engine arrived on scene at 22.36 and extinguished the fire using a hose reel jet.”

Merseyside Fire and Rescue attends bin fire on Silvester Street in Vauxhall, Liverpool | Handout/LDRS

In reference to the ongoing rubbish dumping, local resident, Maisie Wilson said she has raised the issue of waste management to Liverpool city council: “Fly tipping has been an issue in that area of the street for a while, with bins not being emptied as regularly as they should have been.

“We reported issues to Liverpool City Council when we noticed loads of rats hanging around the mess, nothing was done.”

Council workers clean up debris after bin fire on Silvester Street in Vauxhall, Liverpool | Handout/LDRS

A spokesperson for Liverpool City Council said: “Bin fires are incredibly dangerous acts of vandalism and are completely unacceptable. Any damaged bins reported to the Council will be replaced.

“Our teams respond to all reports of fly-tipping, which are investigated by our Environmental Crime Enforcement Team before they are cleared. Where an offender can be identified, further action will be taken.

“Responding to and clearing illegally dumped rubbish costs the Council approximately £1m a year, which could be spent on other vital services.

“Rubbish should never be left on the streets as this can attract unwanted pests such as rats.”