Last updated 19:27, Thursday, 20 November 2008

WORK is being carried out to put an end to Workington’s rat infestation.

Allerdale council received complaints about rats in the Cloffocks car park and workers in the town said they had complaints from people who had seen rats in daylight.

But town centre development manager Dave Fletcher said that the problem was under control.

He said: “Every service area in the town is checked regularly and we have been working with Carlisle Pest Services.”

Margaret Parker, of Salterbeck Road, Salterbeck, said: “I saw rats scuttling about during the day right in the corner of the footpath on Brow Top.”

“It was horrendous. I get my husband to drop me off and pick me up from work now. They should have a Pied Piper in the town. I doubt visitors would come back if they saw them.”

Mrs Parker, who works at the Trades Hall, added: “I have had comments from people that they have seen the rats all over town, even on the Marks & Spencer car park.”

Alison Thurston, of Crosby, near Maryport, said she had spotted them twice in the town centre.

She said: “The first time I saw them I was dropping my daughter off at the Cloffocks car park. They are my worst nightmare.”

An Allerdale council spokesman said: “We are aware of the problem and are taking steps to clear out the undergrowth which is providing cover for vermin.

“We are also attempting to remove any food source – such as discarded wrappings which still contain crumbs of food – before looking into the safest and most effective method of eradicating the problem without causing harm to the public and pets and would ask members of the public to help reduce the amount of food available to vermin by not dropping litterbut putting it in a bin instead.”