A NEW council recycling programme is turning city streets into "rat restaurants" and breeding grounds for flies, it has been claimed.

Residents living in the Wyndford in Maryhill say Glasgow City Council's food waste recycling programme is attracting vermin and causing infestations of flies in their homes.

The initiative, which is being rolled out across the city, aims to boost recycling of food waste including meat, bread and vegetables.

However one bin on Latherton Drive hasn't been emptied for weeks according to locals, who also claim there are not enough bins for all residents.

Glasgow Times:

As temperatures soared as high as 23C in the last fortnight, people say the stench has become unbearable.

One man, who has been living in the area for 45 years, said: "It's causing rats and things and it smells absolutely disgusting.

"I've never had so many flies in my house before, it's horrible. In 45 years here I've never seen rats until now.

"People are using the bins but the problem is the lids are being pushed open because they are so full.

"I've never seen them emptied, I'm not sure if they have been since they were set up.

"You have got people here really upset about it.

"In this area our pavements are also narrow and the bins are right near people's homes, so the flies are going in to their houses."

Locals also claim some flats have not been allocated their own disposal bins so are using ones meant for other flats, causing them to fill up quickly.

Glasgow Times:

Maryhill Councillor John Letford said he has had a number of complaints about the issue and has urged the administration to take action.

The SNP councillor argued that unless the problems are fixed quickly, residents will lose faith in the scheme and stop using the bins.

He said: "I've been contacted by a number of constituents obviously I'm concerned there are reports of rats and I think my constituents are trying to recycle the best they can,we're all for that. If the council are offering a weekly uplift and it's not happening it will cause these problems.

"We need to sort out our procedures and processes otherwise people will lose faith in the idea.

"We are not in the business of providing rat restaurants.

"I'm happy to work with the council department to get the situation sorted out but we need a solution ASAP."

A council spokesman said: “A cleansing team will investigate this matter and appropriate action will be taken.”

Have you had a similar problem with your bins? Contact hannah.rodger@eveningtimes.co.uk, or phone 0141 302 7072