RATS as big as cats.

Crows perching on 5ft-high rubbish piles, tearing open bin bags and flicking filth on to pavements while a medieval stench fills the streets.

10 The mounting pile of rubbish in Birmingham has been dubbed by locals as a health hazard Credit: Paul Tonge - The Sun

The people of Birmingham know EXACTLY what Labour’s threat of megastrikes looks — and smells — like.

Many on the Left cheered when Shadow Chancellor John McDonnell promised large-scale, co-ordinated industrial action across the UK to destabilise the Government and empower unions demanding bumper pay rises.

At the TUC conference this month, Bakers Union boss Ronnie Draper called for anti-strike laws to be ignored, saying: “They’re not going to lock us all up, there aren’t enough jails” — while delegates voted unanimously in favour of “collective action”.

But here in Birmingham, where hundreds of binmen have been on strike for months, backed by the Unite union, disgusted locals are desperate for the rest of the UK to take notice and witness the repugnance of McDonnell’s ideals.

The row began in June when Labour-run Birmingham City Council, struggling from years of mismanagement, announced plans to cut more than 100 jobs to save £5million a year.

Yesterday Unite, run by Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn’s ally Len McCluskey, vowed continued action for at least three more months — with binmen striking for three separate hours a day, plus working to rule by returning to depots for breaks.

10 Shopkeeper Mark Convey says the smell puts people off shopping at MC Bargains Credit: Paul Tonge - The Sun

10 Local resident and full time mum Sandra Harper, 28, with the stinking pile of rubbish Credit: Paul Tonge - The Sun

It looks set to drag the Summer of Discontent well into winter — and possibly Christmas and New Year.

Birmingham’s streets are covered in bin bags.

People wait up to six weeks for a collection, mums push buggies over maggots and bugs that spill from the muck and corner shops struggle for customers due to the smell of rotting waste.

Community leader Javed Iqbal said yesterday: “It’s diabolical that the unions allow these strikes to be extended. They should be pushing for more talks and getting the problem resolved. We are the ones suffering.”

Local councillor Ken Wood said: “Residents should not be political pawns in somebody else’s game. Len McCluskey came up to Birmingham for a rally on Sunday then disappeared back to London.

10 Jeremy Corbyn's right hand man John McDonnell has pushed for large-scale strike to destabilise the Government Credit: PA:Press Association

10 There are echoes of the winter of discontent strike from 1978-9, pictured bags of rubbish from chaos in London's Leicester Square Credit: Hulton Archive - Getty

10 Mum-of-two Lucie Clements, 29 is one of many locals suffering from the long-drawn out strike Credit: Paul Tonge - The Sun

10 Carer Tracey Watkins, 52, says the piles get bigger every day and attracts the likes of rats and crows Credit: Paul Tonge - The Sun

“He’s not the one sitting with piles of bags outside his house with God-knows-what crawling about inside.

“Unite said right at the beginning it was not austerity that caused this but Labour mismanagement of the city. Maybe the unions see this an opportunity to have a go at the Government.”

The initial seven-week strike began in June over council plans to make a certain grade of bin worker redundant by October.

The strike was called off but resumed after the council issued redundancy notices which the union claims defied a previous agreement.

Workers returned to picket lines at the start of this month after talks stalled.

Council leader John Clancy resigned last week over his handling of the dispute.

More than 13,000 people have signed a petition calling for a council tax rebate, while sporadic collections by agency workers are costing more than £300,000 a week.

Solihull Tory MP Julian Knight said: “The fine city of Birmingham is being forced back to the 1970s. Labour need to put an end to taxpayers footing the bill for Labour’s relationship with the unions.”

Yesterday locals told The Sun of their desperation.

10 Locals told Sun woman Emma Pietras of their desperation to see the dispute end Credit: Paul Tonge - The Sun

10 Unite leader and Jeremy Corbyn pal Len McCluskey has vowed to keep strike action going for at least three months Credit: AFP

10 The initial seven-week strike began in June over council plans to make a certain grade of bin worker redundant Credit: PA:Press Association

Carer Tracey Watkins, 52, said: “Crows break open the bags. They get to where the rats can’t and the piles get bigger every day.”

Community activist Desmond Jaddoo added: “We’ve got maggots, flies, massive rats. I saw one that I thought was a cat.

“You can’t help yourself from heaving at the smell. It’s a major health hazard. Imagine if a rat attacked a child or a child put something in its mouth.

“People are angry at facing the likelihood the strike could drag on until January. This could be the brand new Winter of Discontent.”

That is what the winter of 1978 to 79 was branded when there were widespread strikes by public sector workers — including binmen.

Birmingham shopkeeper Mark Convey, 46, told of a 60-bag pile of rubbish near his household goods shop MC Bargains.

He said: “It’s disgusting. I’m taking £300 a day, down from £1,000. The smell puts people off.

“The bags are riddled with maggots so I clear them every week, even though I’m not legally allowed to.

“I’m glad the Sun is bringing this to national attention.”

Referring to their proposed job cuts, a council spokesman said last night: “We will continue to robustly defend the action so we can deliver a plan in the best interests of Birmingham’s citizens.”