Locals complain that rats the size of cats are plaguing their town after pest control services and bin collections were cut.
Locals in Middlesbrough, Redcar and Cleveland say they are being plagued by rats (Image: Getty Archive)
A town in the North of England is being overrun with rats after bin collections were cut, locals claim. Residents in Middlesbrough, Redcar and Cleveland council areas are grappling with an infestation as a result of historic local auhority cuts, according to Jamie Lawrencex, a rat catcher from Exopest Ltd.
Rats have invaded some homes and have even been found in toilet bowls. Locals have also been finding the decomposing bodies of dead rats around their estates. Mr Lawrence told the Daily Mail he has seen rats scampering about in broad daylight, blaming the plague of rats on council cuts to a pest control service in 2018, cuts to bin collections and residents dropping litter. His comments came after a rat said to measure 22 inches (55cm) was found in Normanby, Redcar and Cleveland, last week.
The pest controller claimed to have caught a rat measuring 21 inches in Carlin How near Middlesbrough. The average domestic cat is 18 inches long.
Middlesbrough Council cut bin collections from fortnightly to weekly in August 2024. As with many cash-strapped local authorities, the town hall also axed private pest control services, according to the Mail.
A source close to the council told the Express the local authority recently increased staff on its pest control team from one to four. The council doesn’t offer a domestic service, but does respond to requests for pest control at council-owned places.
Paul McInnes, a Conservative councillor on Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council, told the Mail he found a rat as he was fitting a new kitchen in his shop.
He said: “It is perfect habitat for them here in this area with all the back alleys and becks (small streams) running down. But the council could do a lot better.”
Business owner Jan Pybus, 59, said rats have been found in her bins and even chewed through skirting boards to get into her shop.
A 22 inch rat was found in a nearby town (Image: David Taylor/Stephen Martin/Eston Ward Councillors)
She claimed the problem was getting worse because grass isn’t being cut properly.
Middlesbrough local, Michelle Harper, 36, said: “It is disgusting. I have seen the rodents walking on fences, running around the back gardens, and dying outside my door. They don’t care and they are massive – like cats.”
A Middlesbrough Council spokesman said: “Residents and businesses have a legal duty to ensure that the waste they produce is secure and disposed of correctly.
“Leaving food waste and other bulky items on the ground in alley ways is a major contributory fact to issues with rodents.
“We urge members of the public to play their part in looking after their neighbourhood and we will investigate and address the issues they report to us.”
Redcar and Cleveland said: “The council has a dedicated pest control officer who manages pest issues on council-owned land. While we no longer provide a wider pest control service, we do offer advice to residents where possible.
“The council continues to work with Beyond Housing, Northumbrian Water and other partners to address complex issues and explore potential solutions. There is also helpful guidance and preventative measures on our website to support people in dealing with pests.”
