Bradford's booming rat population will be blitzed in a major action plan.

Figures released today show a 25 per cent increase in the number of complaints about rats.

Bradford Council's pest control section received 1,270 calls during 1998 and 1,588 in the past year.

But crisis talks between the Council and Yorkshire Water have revealed the company thought the numbers were plummeting - because of crossed wires between the two organisations.

The meeting was arranged after a report went to the Council's Environment Scrutiny Committee last month showing that complaints had rocketed since Yorkshire Water contracted out sewer baiting to a private company.

But the company hit back then saying it spent more on rodent control than almost any other water or sewage company in the country.

Pest control officers told committee members they believed the figures were rising because of a new system of blasting rat hot spots with poison, rather than blanket baiting in the district.

But the scrutiny committee was being told tonight that Yorkshire Water had believed there had been a reduction and the two agencies needed to improve communication.

The Council has now agreed to supply the company with quarterly reports on the number of rat complaints giving post codes to enable them to deal with problem areas.

In return, Yorkshire Water has said it will supply the Council with a map showing their operations. It will include details of areas to be baited, start dates, the number of manholes baited and the numbers of animals poisoned.

The pest control section will tell Yorkshire Water immediately of any specific rat problems which may have links with the drainage systems and the company has agreed to bait the sewers within seven working days.

A Yorkshire Water spokesman said today: "We were happy to sit down with the Environmental Protection Department to discuss this issue and we acknowledge it is a very emotive one.

"It was a fruitful meeting and both authorities agreed to work closer in the future. We will ensure we continue to effectively tackle the problem."

The Council's executive committee member for homes and environment Councillor Jim O'Neill said last month he feared the rat population could now be running out of control and he was concerned about the possible health risk to the community.

Readers regularly complain to the Telegraph & Argus that they have seen the vermin.

Last year, mum of three Jacqueline Lee caught nine rats in traps in the back yard of her terraced home in Holme Wood, Bradford, over a few weeks.

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