A pile of trash left uncollected in St George’s led to rats and a bad smell, residents have said.

Neighbours in Slippery Hill said garbage bags were left uncollected since before Cup Match and were at last picked up at about 7.45pm on Thursday.

One resident said: “The stench has become overbearing and the rats are enjoying themselves. “Everywhere else in St George’s has had their trash collected twice since Cup Match but not our neighbourhood.”

Once-weekly trash collection was introduced in February as a cost-saving exercise.

Government’s Vector Control service and environmental groups have warned since then that reports of rats have increased in and around trash areas.

The Ministry of Public Works did not respond to a request for comment on the delay in collection at Slippery Hill.