East Runton rats 'the size of dogs' being tackled by council

Locals and holiday makers at East Runton have been reporting over a period of months that the slipway by Beach Road and the North Norfolk District Council-run car park is "absolutely infested with rats".

One local said that they are "the size of dogs" and "do not care about humans being around."

Tony Bennet and James Trainer, of Millennium Pest Control, have been assisting the council in rat control and prevention.

James Trainer, pest control technician, puts down traps for the rats seen at the Beach Road car park in East Runton. (Image: Denise Bradley)READ MORE: East Runton 90 homes posters put up in Norfolk village

The Beach Road car park in East Runton where rats have been spotted. 

Mr Bennet said: "We are helping the council to control the problem, of course, it's no good just controlling you have to prevent too. 

"One pair of rats can have up to 1,000 babies a year if they have the right conditions."

Pest control technicians put down traps for the rats seen at the Beach Road car park in East Runton. 

Millennium has been implementing measures to control the rats including installing 15 boxes, and advising the council to trim back the hedge row and empty the bins of its car park more regularly.

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Tony Bennett the pest controller, next to the problem drain, demonstrating how high the hedge row was before being cut down (Image: Jack Warren, Newsquest) READ MORE: New Greggs to open in Cromer Morrisons petrol station

The control measures will take place over an eight-week period with the boxes being checked every two weeks. 

One of the traps for the rats seen at the Beach Road car park in East Runton. (Image: Denise Bradley) Mr Bennet also said that the rat problems seems to have emerged as a result of an accumulation of factors including a disused drain behind the toilet block, the overgrown hedges and the bins. 

Callum Ringer, the council's portfolio holder for IT, environmental and waste services, said: "NNDC have been taking actions including but not limited to baiting, bin replacement and shelter improvements, foliage cutting and changes to bin collection times.

"Although unhappy with the time it has taken at least it is being attended to. 

"It's not a silver bullet.

"We should see improvement in a couple of weeks.

"There are lots of things going on in that vicinity, takeaways, building works, everyone has to play their part."