A MOTHER-of-three who has a newborn baby today demanded urgent action to end the rats menace in her street.

Amanda Ryan, of Roe Greave Road, Oswaldtwistle, said the rodents have infested her home - threatening the health of her children - despite visits from council pest control officers.

She is also unhappy with being charged £8.50 by pest control officers for a visit - weeks after the call-out fee was supposedly scrapped by Hyndburn Council.

Now council chiefs at Hyndburn are planning a special meeting to address the rat problem in the borough and have launched an investigation into the charging mix-up.

Mrs Ryan, who has a seven-week-old child, said: "This has cost me a lot of money. I've had to clean all the pots and pans and throw a lot of things out too.

"I've had to throw my fridge freezer away because the rats have been behind it. It's just the fact they've been near it and I can't take any risks with a newborn."

The final straw came when she found two rats in her house last Tuesday. She said: "I was in my front room when two ran out. I was horrified. I called my brother and we got them into a bucket and outside. We called Accrington pest control and told them to come round. They did but we had to pay for them."

Council officers have visited Mrs Ryan's home twice and each time have put rat poison down.

Mrs Ryan said: "It's disgusting. You can see the rats running around in the street. The majority of residents in the area have had rats in their houses, but most won't call the council because we have to pay for them to do anything. We are angry that we have to pay £8.50 every time they come out. We shouldn't have to pay, we pay council tax, and especially since the situation is not out fault."

Hyndburn Council discussed the controversial call-out fees at its recent budget meeting.

Council leader Peter Britcliffe said: "The system needs looking at. We agree residents should not be charged for domestic visits, and therefore we scrapped the charges when setting this year's budget.

"I would like to thank Mrs Ryan for pointing this out as it means the system will be looked at.

"We are serious about tackling the problem of rats and are anxious this situation is controlled."

Hyndburn Council's litter commission meeting, at which the rat problem will be discussed, is at Scaitcliffe House, Accrington, at 2pm tomorrow.