A giant rat measuring 22 inches (56cm) from nose to tail has been discovered in Normanby, Teesside, highlighting a worsening rodent problem that residents blame on cuts to council pest control services. The supersize rodent, described as being the size of a cat, was found inside a person's home and removed by a pest controller.
Conservative councillor Stephen Martin, whose Eston ward is near the discovery, said the rat was not a one-off. 'Rats are being spotted more and more around our area. It has been getting worse for a few years now,' he said. Martin noted that Redcar and Cleveland Council, like many cash-strapped authorities, no longer offers pest control services to private residents, leaving them to foot the bill for private companies.
Councillor David Taylor added that five housing estates built in quick succession had moved rats from fields to urban areas, while fly-tipping and takeaway food waste had created a 'perfect storm'. He said: 'The rats obviously lived in the sewers but they're now walking the streets.' Taylor called for a coordinated approach involving government, councils, water boards, and businesses.
A council spokesperson said the authority has a dedicated pest control officer for council-owned land and offers advice to residents, but responsibility for private properties lies with occupants. The council is working with partners to address the issue.
