Sunderland family left feeling 'absolutely minging' as rats invade their home because of flytippers and dog muck

The 28-year-old, who lives in Somerset Cottages in Silksworth, has said she and her husband have spent hundreds of pounds blocking up their home with wire wool and foam, which are much-hated by the rodents.

They have also used countless forms of traps, including sticky boards which glues the pests down so they cannot escape.

Rats have still managed to get into their loft and have been found inside kitchen cupboards, while cats in the area are endlessly hunting them down.

Now the couple, who fear their two young children could be bitten by the pests, has called on Sunderland City Council to put a street rat catcher in place to drive down the problem.

The mum says flytippers who dump waste and food and dog walkers not picking up dirt after their animals also exacerbate the problem.

It comes after visitors to Roker Park reported a rise in rat numbers, while residents in the East End have also called for action.

“The street is riddled with them,” she said.

“We knew when we moved in there were rats around here, but honestly, now we’re seeing them all the time up and down the back lane.

"They’ve come into our loft and we can hear them running around a night, and I keep the windows closed in case they come in.

"We’ve done everything to keep them out.

"It just makes you feel minging, this place is spotless and the kids aren’t even allowed to eat a snack outside.

"I’ve seen them the size of cats before.

"What we need is a street exterminator, something to get rid of the rats generally from the area.

"I know that won’t get rid of them forever, but it would help for the moment, and they need to do something about the flytipping.

"There’s also dog dirt all across the lane, it’s disgusting.”

Sunderland City Council has urged people to report rat sightings so they can be dealt with, with people urged to dispose of food and litter appropriately.

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