BIN man Wilbur Ramirez, who swapped his round in Hammersmith and Fulham for the streets of Indonesian capital Jakarta, met the mayor last week to discuss his experience.

Mr Ramirez featured in a BBC2 series which filmed him working with local street sweeper and dustman Iman, living with his family yards from a huge rubbish tip.

The 43-year-old, who described the visit to Mayor Frances Stainton at Hammersmith Town Hall, said: “I couldn't believe how people live.

“Nobody has a toilet there, and there is just one cable where everybody gets their electricity from. I’ve seen countless rats in my daily work but out there they are the size of rabbits. I thought it would be tough, but I could never imagine how tough. For them this nightmare goes on every day.”

Mr Ramirez is planning a charity concert with his soul band later this year to raise cash for safety equipment for Iman and his colleagues.