A huge rat measuring bigger than some breeds of dog has been discovered in a North Yorkshire home.
Local councillors David Taylor and Stephen Martin shared a photo of the 22-inch rodent to social media, prompting dozens of comments from shocked residents.
The rat, discovered in a property in Redcar and Cleveland, is potentially a record-breaking size in the UK, measuring longer than a chihuahua.
Conservative councillors Taylor and Martin criticised the Labour-run council for its handling of rat infestations and said the rodents have even been spotted “crossing the streets”.
In a joint post to social media, they said bins are “overflowing” in some areas, creating “easy food” for rats.
“It’s almost the size of a small cat and it’s not a one-off. Rats are being spotted more and more around our area: in alleyways, around bins, on overgrown land, crossing the streets and now inside homes, the pair said.
“Meanwhile, Redcar and Cleveland Council no longer handles domestic rat infestations.
“They may offer advice if you have got rats in your home, garden, or alley, [but] you’re expected to pay privately to deal with it.”
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The rat measured 22 inches from nose to tail
The Eston Ward councillors have called on the council to take the problem “seriously”, including giving “proper funding” to tackling infestations.
A number of residents responded to the post describing their own sightings of rats in the area.
One wrote: “You should see the size of some of them up Bankfields allotments, they are the size of cats, nothing done by the council when you complain but they keep putting up your rent every year.”
Another said: “We cannot even use our back door to put rubbish out it’s that bad with rats. Two just left dead in the street to rot. When did we become such a scruffy rundown place?”
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Local councillors David Taylor and Stephen Martin have called on action from the council around rat infestations
One social media user described the rat as “massive”, adding it “looks like a dog”.
A spokeswoman for the council said: “The council has a dedicated pest control officer who manages pest issues on council-owned land.
“While we no longer provide a wider pest control service, we do offer advice to residents where possible.
“The council continues to work with Beyond Housing, Northumbrian Water and other partners to address complex issues and explore potential solutions.
“There is also helpful guidance and preventative measures on our website to support people in dealing with pests.”
Rats can carry a number of diseases, including Lyme disease which can spread through their urine.
In recent months, residents have reported seeing rats “the size of cats” in Birmingham as mountains of rubbish piles up on the city’s streets amid a strike by bin workers.
An all-out strike by members of the Unite union began in March in a dispute over pay and remains ongoing.
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Ongoing strikes by Birmingham bin workers has left a pile up of rubbish on the city’s streets
Birmingham City Council declared itself effectively bankrupt in 2023 by issuing a section 114 notice.
Ex-Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn joined strikers on a “mega picket” line outside a council refuse depot in the Tyseley area of the city last month.
“Birmingham is not isolated and Birmingham is not alone – the financial issues that affect Birmingham are actually there in almost every local authority in the country, particularly in the big urban cities, Corbyn said.
“And those problems are that they have not enough money. The Government is not spending enough money on local government.”
