An infestation of rats described as being "as big as cats" is making residents' lives a misery in a Bradford community.

Residents of Manningham say they are petrified of the rats which are nesting in a brick wall in Sedgewick Close and run around the recreational ground between Lumb Lane and Westgate.

Christine Sweeney, 62, lives next to the alley which is adjacent to the brick wall where the rats have made their home.

She said: "You can see them running about. The rats are really big, some as big as cats and I'm terrified of them.

"I don't get to see my grandchildren as my daughter, Colleen, won't bring them to see me because it's too unhygienic with the rats.

"I have a weak heart, I have a pacemaker fitted and angina and this is just making me worse. I just can't cope any more."

Janet Clarkeson, who lives in the area and has previously complained to Bradford Council, said she thinks the rats are being attracted to the area because people throw food out on to the nearby field.

She said: "They come out at night and early in the morning and some of them are so big. It's not very pleasant. We can't even leave our doors open, because they might run in."

Mrs Sweeney said her daughter, Patricia Sweeney, rang the Council three weeks ago, but a spokesman for the authority said they have no record of the telephone call. He said: "We have not been contacted by anyone in Sedgwick Close since last June and July, when we visited four times to sort out the problem.

"If anyone sees a rat they should report it to the Council on (01274) 433926 and the Council will organise a visit to the property within 48 hours."

Mrs Sweeney, who moved into the property in 2005, said there was a problem with rats last year and residents did contact the council.

She said: "Somebody came out to put poison down, but when the rats died they just left them and didn't come back."

Joshua Hussain, 17, Mrs Sweeney's grandson, has tried putting down cement blocks over the rat holes to discourage them.

Mrs Sweeney's property is owned by Bradford Community Housing Trust, (BCHT) which has a neighbourhood warden who checks the surroundings of the flats and litter picks the area twice a week to keep.

A BCHT spokesman said they had not previously received a report of a rat problem from the tenant.

"We have spoken to the tenant and can confirm that the Council's pest control section will be contacting the lady immediately.'' e-mail: ali.davies@bradford.newsquest.co.uk

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