WEST Devon Borough Council’s recycling and waste contractor FCC Environment is carrying out a full enquiry after a video was posted on social media showing recycling workers pouring boiling water on rats in a bin.

The disturbing scenes were filmed and put on social media site Snapchat and shared on Facebook, shocking and upsetting viewers who have called for the instant dismissal of the staff.

In the video you could hear the rats screaming as boiling water from a kettle was poured on them and the workers laughing and saying ’they are dead, instantly.’

Cllr Caroline Mott, West Devon Borough Council’s lead member for recycling and waste said: ‘West Devon Borough Council takes a zero-tolerance approach to animal cruelty. We are taking this video, and the distressing actions it shows, very seriously.

‘We can confirm that our contractor, FCC Environment, is currently carrying out a full internal enquiry. Bearing in mind the severity of the video content, we are expecting a swift conclusion to the investigation so that appropriate action can be taken quickly. We would like to stress that this is the action of a few individuals and is not condoned by the council nor FCC Environment.’It is understood the incident has also been reported to the RSPCA.