Street plagued by rats who run amok in gardens and burrow in to sheds after resident leaves rubbish mountain
FURIOUS residents are demanding action after an infestation of rats was allowed to terrorise their street when huge piles of rubbish were dumped in a garden.
Locals claim that they have spent hundreds of pounds on rat poison to tackle the issue that has been plaguing them for more than two years in Darlington, County Durham.
They believe that the issue started when a neighbour was fined more than £800 for leaving piles of rubbish in their garden.
Rodents have been raiding their gardens and destroying their properties, with one resident having to replace a shed which was chewed through.
Resident Liz Robinson says she has spent "hundreds of pounds" on rat poison to tackle the issue.
She claims the housing provider the Railway Housing Association had sent out a pest controller to remove the rats but they continued to return.
Liz said: "We keep on seeing rats all the time over and over again. They’re creating holes and tunnels or we are finding them dead on the ground.
"The last five months have been horrendous. I am absolutely petrified of them."
The rats have caused so much damage to sheds in gardens along the street that residents are now dismantling them to prevent further destruction.
Liz added: "I am now the third person on this street who has had to get rid of the huts in their garden because of a rat problem.
"They gnawed through the wood and were coming in and shredding bags up. The woman a few doors down has been to hell and back.
"There was a woman opposite me who had to get rid of her shed and eventually moved out, and I am sure it was because of a rat problem.
"The Railway are saying, 'It's not our problem anymore' but that stinks.
"It's not on. Everyone is suffering because of this."
Neighbour Mark Wrangham has created his own traps in a bid to crack down on the rodents running riot in the area, and is finding up to two or three a day.
His rehab from recent back surgery has been hampered by his constant work to remove the rats and he says his garden is now covered with traps and poison.
PEST CONTROL
In response to residents' concerns, housing provider the Railway Housing Association said it was working with Darlington Borough Council to address the issue.
A spokesman said: "We are aware that there is an issue with rats in the area and we are always grateful when our residents bring matters like this to our attention.
"It’s something we are taking very seriously and we have contacted pest control at Darlington Borough Council to see what can be done to address the situation.
"We encourage all residents to put waste sacks in their wheelie bins and to ensure to that any excess waste is not left on the ground where it can attract pests."
Steve Todd, environmental health manager at the council, added: "We offer a pest control treatment service in domestic properties and gardens.
"The householder is welcome to contact the team to discuss any concerns so we can work out the most effective way of dealing with such issues."
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