RAGING homeowners have branded their street a "Third World Slum" as a rat-infested 30ft mountain of rubbish that was dumped two years ago looms over their properties.

       Shocking pictures show stacks of festering waste towering over nearby trees and houses in the West Midlands - with furious residents blasting it a "massive eye-sore" as parents worry for their kids' safety.

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       Waste has been dumped at the site in the West Midlands for two years - leaving nearby residents fuming Credit: SWNS 5

       Lewy Watton, who lives next to the rat-infested site, has branded it an 'eye-sore' Credit: SWNS

       The site became a dumping ground two years ago and the rubbish has only grown higher since with waste including bin liners, mattresses, wooden pallets and scrap metal - but nothing has been done to sort the problem.

       Neighbours are now calling for action to be taken amid fears for their health and concerns the enormous rat-infested mound in Straight Road, Willenhall, is a fire risk.

       Firefighters previously spent hours tackling a blaze at the site on the Arrow Industrial Estate when the rubbish broke out in flames last April.

       Mum-of-two Gina Howells, 33, who lives nearby, said: "It's not only a massive eyesore but a health and fire risk as well.

       "It absolutely stinks and we've seen rats running about. I'm worried for the health of my children and don't understand how it has been allowed to grow this big.

       "Surely somebody is responsible for it but the council and Environment Agency haven't done anything about it so far.

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       "It's left our area looking like a Third World slum. There's already been one fire, what if it happens again and spreads to our homes?"

       Another resident, dad-of-one Lewy Watton, says the site stinks and wants the rubbish to be moved.

       The 30-year-old security officer added: "I'm probably the closest, I'm in a flat that looks directly onto the canal.

       "The last time it went up in flames I went out onto my balcony and it was red hot, so I'm quite close, probably 20m (65ft) away.

       "If it goes up in flames again it could be an issue because it's even bigger now and the heat that came off it last time was ridiculous.

       "It smells all the time and it's an eye-sore, it's quite bad and not very nice to look at.

       "Parents with children have to walk past on their way to school and it's the first thing they see in the morning outside their houses.

       "It needs to be moved."

       "It's left our area looking like a Third World slum. There's already been one fire, what if it happens again and spreads to our homes?

       Gina Howells

       Kully Kaur, who owns a neighbouring business park, added: "I'm not sure exactly what permit they have been given to be doing this.

       "We have been in touch with the Environment Agency, the council, we're not getting any joy - we're getting a slight response but we can't see any action being taken.

       "It is a massive danger in itself, we would really need that moved away."

       Crane company Wolverhampton Lifting is the occupier of the site where the waste has been stored and says it is trying to rectify the issue.

       Director Steven Cookson said: "I have faced the issue and although the problem is not mine we are trying to rectify it.

       "I have told the Environment Agency I will sort the problem if they will help me."

       An Environment Agency spokesperson said: "We are aware of waste being stored at a site next to the Alvar Business Park in Willenhall.

       "We're currently investigating the activities at this site."

       Walsall Council says it is working with the Environment Agency to resolve issues at the site.

       A spokesman added: "We are also in dialogue with the landowner, who is understood to be taking action to remove those responsible for the problems.

       "We cannot comment further at this time as this is an ongoing case that may result in legal action."

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       The pile is full of household waste including bin liners and mattresses Credit: SWNS 5

       Residents want the mountain of rubbish moved Credit: SWNS 5

       The mound towers over nearby trees and homes Credit: SWNS

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