RESIDENTS in Wharfedale and Aireborough are being warned to beware of a vermin invasion.

Sightings of rats and mice in the Aireborough, Horsforth, Otley and Bramhope districts have increased in recent weeks and one rodent catcher said he had been called out on several occasions

He pointed out that this was the time of year when rats made an appearance as their normal food supply had dried up.

And in an effort to keep rats out of towns and villages he advised people not to leave food lying about in public places including river and canal banks, otherwise there could be a problem.

Yorkshire Water claims it spends more on rodent control than almost any of the other water and sewerage companies in the UK.

Rats have been seen on a public car park in Springfield Road, Guiseley. Jim Smith of Springfield Road, said rats had been seen near discarded take-away food and empty cartons on the car park and others had been seen on a road behind his home.

"A pest control officer has been to the car park and the nearby railway embankment to deal with the problem," he said.

Shortly before Christmas Ruth Laughey, of Wharfedale Textiles, Otley Road, told the Wharfedale Observer she had seen a number of rats on the car park opposite the shop where she worked.

Coun Chris Townsley (Lib, Dem) said he had reported sightings of rats in the Victoria Mount and Sunnybank Avenue areas of Horsforth.

Derek Jackson, of Victoria Mount, said he had seen rats on some land at the back of his property.

"This land was used by people running a car sales business but they have since left. They left behind quite a lot of rubbish, dirt and waste and this had attracted the rats. I informed Leeds City Council and someone came and dealt with the problem," he said.

It is understood a rat has been seen on the car park of West Park Bramhope RUFC at Bramhope.

Ralph Bennett, groundsman at the rugby club, said he had not heard of any incidents relating to rats on club property.

Rats have also been seen at Yeadon Dam and on nearby allotments but rat catchers are keeping the problem at the dam under control.

Coun Moira Dunn (Lab, Aireborough) said she had not received any reports that rats had been seen at the dam in recent weeks.

A spokesman for Rentokil Initial said: "It is at this time of the year when rats start to put in an appearance when food from their normal habitat has dried up. They usually live on seeds, berries and cereals."

He advised the public not to leave discarded food and other rubbish in public places.

A spokeswoman for Surekill Pest Control Services, Leeds, said they had had a number of calls to Horsforth to deal with mice infestation in private houses. "We have dealt with a mixture of field and town mice in recent weeks," she said.

A Yorkshire Water spokesman said: "Yorkshire Water spends more on rodent control than almost any of the other water and sewerage companies in the UK."

The work is carried out on Yorkshire Water's behalf by Britain's largest independent pest control company, National Britannia, which provides similar services to more than 40 local authorities, the London Underground and across most of the capital's sewerage system.

The Yorkshire Water spokesman added: "We always work closely with environmental health departments and this liaison will continue in relation to the future effectiveness of rodent control in sewers."

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