Residents say they are living alongside “dangerous cannibal rats” which have attacked people on a rubbish-strewn street in Darlington.
People living around Westmoreland Street say the rat problem has worsened over the past year, with rodents reportedly chewing through bins and gates and growing to around 10 inches long.
One resident, who did not wish to be named, described the back lane as “disgusting” and said several dead rats had been found.
Pictures taken in the area show rubbish and broken building materials dumped beside walls, along with bottles and other waste. Another image shows a large dead rat lying beside a discarded plastic bottle.
Darlington Borough Council said it was aware of an “ongoing issue” on Westmoreland Street.
The anonymous resident told The Northern Echo: “The amount of dog poo is unreal, and there are about four dead rats down the street now.
“I don’t go out in the lane now because of the fly tipping.
“There are a few residents trying to do something about it but it is like trying to stop a flood.”
The resident also claimed that a child wearing Heely trainers had accidentally kicked what they thought was a rock, only to discover it was a rat, which then attacked them.
They added: “Some of the rats are 10 inches long and that’s without the tail.
“My garden gate looks like a cartoon character has taken a bite out of it.”
Richard Huysers, 53, a health and safety manager who owns a property on the street, said neighbours had even reported seeing rats eating other rats.
He said: “The whole North Road area has improved so much recently, but here it’s like living in the 18th century with the Pied Piper.
“It’s got to the state that it’s been that bad that a couple of neighbours have said they’ve seen rats eating rats, trying to get food.
“I didn’t believe it until I was sent pictures of it.”
Mr Huysers said he had also received photographs of holes chewed into wheelie bins and had heard reports of rats going for people.
He added: “They’re very, very big, these rats as well, so they’re obviously getting their food source from somewhere.
“So it’s quite a bad situation at the moment.”
Another resident, David Burnside, 73, said the problem had existed throughout the five years he had lived in the area but had become worse recently.
He said: “People leave a load of s**** in the street. Out of sight, out of mind. It’s great for the rats.
“It has definitely got worse recently, especially with the food waste bins too.”
Mr Burnside, who was walking his dog Poppy, said he had previously seen a rat around 10 inches long in the alley.
Councillor Anne-Marie Curry warned that the rodents could pose a risk to people.
She said: “Rats are dangerous. They can pass on infections to anybody who’s bitten.
“It can be really nasty.”
A Darlington Borough Council spokesperson said: “Our Civic Enforcement team is working with Environmental Health to resolve the situation.
“Our teams work hard to keep our streets, back lanes and open spaces clean and tidy, and fly-tipping of any kind will not be tolerated.”
The council said residents can report fly-tipping through its website and request rat treatments through customer services.
Pest control treatments cost £10 and are free for council tenants.
