A Riddlesden resident fears demolished chicken sheds will cause a rat infestation. The sheds on the Swine Lane development site, earmarked for 400 homes, were pulled down last week. The chickens had vacated the premises some time ago but it is believed rats soon moved into the litter and straw-strewn sheds.

Homeless again, they will have to look for another source of food, fears Carr Bank resident Christine Brown. She says: "Some people near the field have had to put bait down. They have seen rats in their gardens.

"I have been in touch with all the council departments I would think deal with rats. They said they are under no compulsion to get involved as it's private land."

A council pest control spokesman says: "We have not had any complaints about rats in this area. If there is a problem with rats on private land it is the responsibility of the landowner to inform either the council or a private pest control firm to deal with the problem."

A spokesman for developers Barratt Leeds says: "There was no sign of rats when the chicken sheds on the Swine Lane site were demolished. Should a problem arise, we would take any precautions necessary through the normal health and safety procedures."