THERE are 'major issues' with rats in Worcester, warns a pest control expert.

Concerned residents have reported 449 infestations to Worcestershire County Council - though the city has not been blighted by 'super rats' which are rampant in other areas of the UK.

Some urban areas have become home to the genetic mutations which have become less susceptible to some forms of common rodenticide and wary of methods used to control them. 

Jim Allen, of Allen Pest Control based in Hallow, said the city has not seen the mutations but does still have an issue with rats' nests.

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Mr Allen said: "I would not say I have seen an emergence of super rats in Worcester but there is certainly a major issue with rats that people do not see.

"There is no direct council service to help with infestations in infrastructure across the city so it is up to guys like myself and other pest controllers to tackle the problem."

What diseases are spread by rats?

People can be infected by a bacteria carried by rats which is capable of causing a form of jaundice known as leptospirosis or Weil's disease.

It is spread in rats' urine and can persist in wet places.

The research into infestations conducted by Direct Line Insurance also found that each local authority across the UK spent an average of £101,044 dealing with residential rodent infestations.

Despite this, just £23,672 was spent across Worcestershire for tackling rodent infestations.

Simon Wilkes, head of Worcestershire Regulatory Services (WRS), said: “Property owners are mainly responsible for dealing with their own rodent infestations, with some councils offering subsidised services for people on benefits, which WRS administers for them.

"We’ve no evidence of changes to the number of rats reported to us for these treatments.

“Five of the Worcestershire authorities – Bromsgrove, Malvern, Redditch, Worcester and Wychavon – provide a free service to people in receipt of qualifying benefits, which last year saw the councils spend a combined £23,672.”

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This was a slight decrease from 2021, where £23,797 was spent tackling infestations.

Worcestershire Regulatory Services said the 2020 data is not comparable due to the effects of the covid pandemic.

Allen Pest Control is a Worcestershire-based service covering Worcester, Malvern, Droitwich and South Birmingham.

Worcestershire Regulatory Services delivers services including Environmental Health and Licensing services throughout the county.