Lithium battery fires

Lithium batteries have caused fires in the rubbish lorries. Please do not put batteries in your waste or recycling bin. All batteries (including lithium batteries from e-bikes and e-scooters and other re-chargeable devices) can be taken to the Reuse and Recycling Centre at Northumberland Wharf.

Black ants

 Black ants feeding

Photo credit: PA233857 by Hunter-Desportes is licensed under CC BY 2.0

How do you identify black ants?

Black ants are:

  • dark brown to black in colour
  • ¼ inch (4mm)  in size
  • active at night

If they are yellow-brown in colour, they could be pharaoh ants.

What are black ant bites?

They are itchy round and red with a white centre. Black ants bites usually happen while you sleep.

How can you get rid of them?

We can treat affected areas and nest with insecticide to kill the ants. 

To treat them yourself, you can buy insecticide from garden centres and hardware shops.