A row of homes in Gateacre are being plagued by rubbish eating rats and dead animals in their alleyway.
The area between Killester Road and Grange Lane has become so "disgusting" that people are calling on the council to take action.
One man, who asked not to be named, told the ECHO: "I walk past the end of the alleyway every day and it's disgusting.
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"We see rats scurrying around - or sometimes lying dead - all the time, and no wonder because there's just open bins and bags of rubbish lying around.
"All the rats have to do is go through a gap in the fence and they're in everyone's gardens.
"And there's no point putting poison out, because as long as the alleyway is like that, there'll always be more rats where the others came from. I feel really sorry for the people in those houses."
The man believes the council should take action against those responsible.
He said: "It's one thing just cleaning up the alleyway every couple of weeks, but the people responsible need to be fined if they don't stop letting it get like that."
Councillor for Woolton for Liverpool City Council Kris Brown said the authority is aware of the issue and has carried out clean-ups of the alleyway "when needed."
He also confirmed council officials are investigating the cause of the problem.
Cllr Brown said: "There seems to be somebody, either a resident of business on Grange Lane dumping a load of stuff and overfilling the bins.
"The council is going to write to local residents and commercial properties. They have the power to fine and prosecute."
When asked about alternative solutions Cllr Brown said installing gates on the alleyway, for which residents would have a key, has been considered, though he said these are "exceptionally costly."
He added: "We would consider these if they were joint-funded - if residents really want this.
"We need something to stop residents dumping stuff there."
Liverpool City Council were approached for comment but did not reply in time for publication.
