Rat horror as 150 million hungry rodents terrorise UK neighbourhoods: ‘Coming into houses’ | UK | Information

London: Increase in “rat plague” investigated by the team

The nation rejoiced after Prime Minister Boris Johnson eased lockdown restrictions on April 12 to allow non-essential retail stores, hairdressers, gyms and beer gardens to reopen their doors. But a new “plague” is breaking out on the streets of Britain – with offices and restaurants closed for much of the year, the UK’s rat population is believed to have grown by a quarter to an estimated 150 million. With many Britons working from home, there is far more trash piling up on their doors than usual – and the rats have kept working.

Peter Higgs, executive director of PGH Pest Control and Prevention in Surrey, said his company has seen a 50 percent increase in residential use since introducing social distancing measures.

He said, “You’re coming home – that’s exactly what happens.

“All of the waste produced by people who eat food and facilities that cook is gone.

“I think some garbage collections aren’t that common right now either. They get trashed.

Rat populations are said to have exploded in the UK (Image: GETTY)

Some rats defy moving into the houses (Image: GETTY)

“When they are hungry, they will eat each other. They will use a hierarchy in cities – the big rats will eat the smaller ones.

“They’ll come in with the sewer system – they’ll eat feces.”

Cleankill Pest Control bosses have warned that the increase in “outdoor eating” during the pandemic has also resulted in far more scraps of food now lying around.

Overflowing trash cans only exacerbated the problem.

While the British go to the parks to eat and drink when the weather is fine, some cannot take their rubbish home with them – and this is said to have multiplied the problem.

READ MORE: Giant rat plague hits UK gardens as an 80% increase in rodent activity starts pest warfare.

An increase of little causes problems (Image: GETTY)

Basildon Council in Essex has announced it will spend £ 70,000 on a “specialist” to eradicate an estimated 400,000 rodents.

They will remove the pests from parks and streets after the rodent population rose 300 percent since the pandemic began a year ago.

Kevin Blake, an independent councilor who pushed for the move, said, “It comes to the point where the rats come to your hands for food.

“I go to Northlands Park almost every day and they are so visible every time.

“A dog chased you the other day, you see rats swimming among the birds all the time.

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Trash cans were seen overflowing (Image: GETTY)

“The pest control officer will not go to people’s homes to deal with the infestation, only for parks.”

“We know that’s where the problem is – they’re looking for food.”

The UK Pest Control said its members reported a 51 percent increase in rodent activity during the first lockdown in spring 2020 and a 78 percent increase when the shutdown returned in November.

And now experts fear that the problem could worsen.

Sam Devereux of JG Pest Control in London added: “For people more at home, the number of residential callouts has increased.

Pest controllers have reported more deployments (Image: GETTY)

“This has been the busiest winter we’ve ever had in 10 years.

“But now that the weather is improving and pubs, bars and restaurants are reopening, rodents will migrate elsewhere.

“We have contracts with pubs, restaurants and takeaways and while they are no longer closed we expect a busy spring and summer with them.

“As the temperature changes, they will be less inclined to take shelter in people’s homes, and this will be the perfect time for grocery and beverage stores to reopen.”