The dead rat was uncovered by a pest controller who had been called to the property after reports of an infestation – and has triggered urgent warnings from councillors who believe the problem is worsening
The discovery of a colossal 22-inch rat inside a UK home has triggered urgent warnings from councillors who say it’s a sign the area’s rodent problem is spiralling out of control.
The dead rat – thought to be one of the biggest ever found in the UK – was uncovered by a pest controller who had been called to the property in Normanby after reports of an infestation. Said to resemble the “sewer rat”, it had been nesting inside the house, the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) was told. How it got there remains unclear, but sightings in nearby back alleys had already raised alarm. A photo of the mammoth rodent, shared online, has shocked locals – and prompted calls for sweeping action across the Redcar and Cleveland to tackle the rise in vermin.
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Eston ward councillors David Taylor and Stephen Martin said the problem is worsening and urged Redcar and Cleveland Council to act fast. They’ve demanded a full vermin survery and a borough-wide treatment plan, targeting council-owned land and involving businesses, landlords and social housing providers, reports Teeside Live. It comes after the ‘UK’s most dangerous plant’ left a toddler in A&E with second-degree burns.
Cllr Taylor also blasted poor management of public bins in parts of Eston and Whale Hill which were “overflowing”. Shops, particularly takeaways, had dumped items in them, providing “easy food” for rodents, and overgrown vegetation on public land made for good hiding spaces for rats.
He pressed for coordinated action by the council, warning that without it, Normanby’s giant rat may not be a one-off. Cllr Taylor said: “The longer this is ignored, the worse it will get. It is a growing problem.” He said the rat caught was “massive”, and likened to a small cat or dog, and he had been told by people working in pest control a typical sewer rat could get that big.
As with many other local authorities, Redcar and Cleveland Council no longer offers a pest control solution to private householders, although it retains a full-time officer to tackle issues on council land. Meanwhile, not all social housing providers automatically offer such a service, or if they do it is only on a discretionary basis.
Cllr Taylor praised the council’s “workforce on the ground doing an absolutely amazing job”, but said more direction was needed from the top of the organisation on the matter. He said he accepted the extensive action being called for would “cost a fortune”, but the problem arising was also a health risk.
He said: “They’ll keep multiplying and unless there is a big cull in the area, people will keep experiencing this.” A spokeswoman for the council 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.”