A Midlands man has claimed he has lay in bed at night terrorised by the sound of scurrying rats.
The council house tenant has been plagued with rats for SIX YEARS at his Stoke-on-Trent home.
The Longton resident, living in Staffordshire, blames nearby garages for his vermin problem, but nobody knows who owns them.
David Penkerthman's council house is overrun with rats and he has even found them in the kitchen.
His bungalow is one of four that share a boundary wall with old garages on Tomlinson Street, reports StokeonTrentLive.
He believes the rat problem is caused by the garages and adjacent land, and he says they must be cleared.
But Stoke-on-Trent City Council does not own the land, and David say it is a mystery who does.
Council exterminators have treated David’s home for rats on four separate occasions since March 2016.
David, aged 78, said: “It’s because of the garages, the rats are just pouring in from there. I’ve got a broken air brick at the back, I’ve had to fill it in myself but they’ve burrowed down now. You can’t get any peace. You lie in bed at night and you can hear them.
“I was with my daughter the other day in the garden and she said, ‘What’s that sound?’
“Then my dog came running out from behind these runner beans with this rat in its mouth.
“The council have come out and said I wasn’t home, but I was in and nobody left a calling card.
“The rats aren’t interested in the poison they put down either, they just ignore it.
Rats in Brum
“I’m not a squeamish person, but I just want to get something done.”
Councillor Randy Conteh, cabinet member for communities and safer city, said: “We have received reports of rats at Mr Penkethman’s property on four separate occasions since March 2016
“We have responded to these reports and treated the property for rats outside in March 2016, September 2016, June 2017, and May 2019.
"Our pest control team is making regular visits to the property and is treating the garden for rats.
"Another visit to the property is scheduled in the next couple of weeks.
“Public health and wellbeing is a primary concern and we would encourage any residents who have concerns about issues with pest control to call the council on 01782 234234.”
