An expert has warned the city could become infested with vermin if bin strikes continue for more than a week.

Professor Jackie Cassell, chair in primary care and public health at Brighton and Sussex Medical School in Falmer, said infestation by rats and other creatures was likely if rubbish bags containing food waste were left to fester in the streets.

The warning has come as pest-controllers have reported a 26% rise in rat populations in the South East.

The entire 300-strong workforce of binmen, streetsweepers and mechanics employed by Brighton and Hove City Council's CityClean refuse department will walk out for a week on Monday in a pay dispute.

The council has until then to try to appease the workers' concerns.

Leaders of their union GMB yesterday warned they were prepared to extend the strikes if an acceptable solution was not found.

Fears have been raised the row could escalate to mirror the situation in Leeds, Yorkshire, where council binmen have been on strike for two months.

Rubbish has piled up in the streets to such an extent that Leeds Metropolitan University microbiologist Chris Boothby warned there was a public health danger through bacteria from the waste becoming airborne.

Prof Cassell said vermin would be a more significant problem in Brighton and Hove.

She said: "Given that we still do dump large amounts of food waste in rubbish which goes out for collection around people's houses, we are likely to get rat and mice infestations if it is left for any lengthy amount of time.

"Airborne bacteria is not particularly high risk but it is unpleasant. People can feel unwell when there are smells around from rubbish, they feel nauseated."