SWARMS of rats have infested alleyways in Manchester city centre and are gorging on restaurant waste.

These shocking pictures, taken just before dawn, show large brown rats scurrying between piles of bin-bags, discarded cardboard boxes and restaurant litter.

Pest controllers have seen a 100 per cent increase in call-outs for rat infestations in Manchester city centre in recent years, but council officers say Chinatown has the biggest problem.

Binmen have labelled the round 'the worst in Greater Manchester' and say the rat population has rocketed in the last three years since late-night collections were axed by their commercial waste collection firms.

They remove the waste at 7.45am, but between closing time and collection the district becomes the kingdom of the rats.

More than 50 were seen darting across one alleyway - Reyner Street - in less than 10 minutes at 5.30am.

Reyner Street and St James Street, single-lane alleyways off Nicholas Street, have the largest populations, which can carry various fatal diseases. Rats were also seen in the main car park and running along other streets.

Homeless

Behind one restaurant, the M.E.N. discovered a homeless man wrapped in a duvet, sleeping on pallets. Binmen said they often saw rats crawling over him as he slept.

Restaurateurs and other business leaders met the council last month to demand action, but environmental health officers say restaurants leaving waste out overnight is attracting the pests and they will prosecute where necessary.

Businesses contract commercial waste firms to remove their rubbish, but several now refuse to collect late at night in the city centre after being served noise abatement notices.

Kin Chen, chairman of the Manchester Oriental Organisation Alliance, said businesses have been pushing for a solution for three years. "This is a very serious problem. The times of collection and methods of disposal need to be changed. Rubbish is placed in plastic bags, but they are too thin and cats, dogs and rodents can easily rip them.

"We have suggested midnight or 2am collection when the restaurants close, but collections are noisy for residents, especially with the siren of a reversing truck.

"Restaurateurs are worried rats might get into the restaurants."

Mr Chen said there is also a problem of fly-tipping. He said rat poison boxes had helped, but appear to be failing to control populations.

"There are bigger issues that need to be addressed, such as fly-tipping and the sewage system," he said.

There are now an estimated 70m rats in Britain, and nationally numbers have surged in recent years according to the 2006 National Rodent Survey. Rachel Christie, of environmental services, said: "Following an increase in reported rat sightings in Chinatown, we have increased the level of sewer and surface baiting.

"We are also inspecting businesses to make sure they are taking measures necessary to prevent pests. We will take action to reduce the problem but it is essential businesses ensure their premises are pest-proof and store waste in secure containers."

Noise

Ms Christie said the last refuse collection is currently 10pm, but the council had not banned late night collections due to noise problems. "Each business is required to organise their own waste collections with a commercial company.

"The commercial waste collector who undertook collections at night decided to discontinue late-night collections as they were receiving complaints about noise disturbance.

"We are working with this company to see how they can reinstate this service without causing a noise nuisance.

"It is the responsibility of restaurateurs to make the necessary waste storage arrangements inside their premises and to put out refuse shortly before collection times.

"Some businesses are still putting out waste late at night, despite warnings that this is attracting pests.

"This issue specifically affects Chinatown and is not reflected around the city."

Rats are a hazard to public health because they can transmit fatal diseases like Weil's disease, Q disease and `murine typhus'.

They also carry Salmonella bacteria, viruses and worms and fleas.

Churning

A business manager, who works nearby but did not want to be named, said: "It's stomach-churning to see how many rats there are in Chinatown.

"I walk past in the early hours and it's a horrible sight.

"I eat in Chinatown regularly and think it's great for Manchester as a restaurant and leisure destination, but this could bring the area down and something needs to be done.

"I've emailed the council, which says it is monitoring the situation, but that is not good enough.

"It needs to take whatever action is required as soon as possible."

The M.E.N. will pass the findings onto the council's environmental health department.

Read more about this issue via the links on the right of this page.