RATS in Accrington were being discussed at a Hyndburn Borough Council meeting today.
The meeting was called after growing concerns about the borough's rodent and litter problems.
Environmental health officers have been carrying out a study in recent weeks after chief environmental health officer Steve Todd revealed to a council meeting in November that the number rats was increasing in the borough.
He partly blamed litter, bird food and discarded human food for the increase.
He said other factors were last year's hot summer weather and major building work in Accrington town centre and the Springhill area, which exposed rat colonies.
Action was taken to treat the areas and the borough's sewers were baited annually, he
added.
Coun Ann Scaife, who has cabinet environmental responsibilities, has expressed concern about diseases and said a big effort must be made to get rid of rats.
She said the £8.50 charge by the council's rodent control workers may have deterred residents from reporting the problem.
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