RAT numbers have reached unprecedented heights it was revealed today -- prompting a council to launch new measures to combat the vermin.

Blackburn with Darwen Council is launching a drive next week as part of its 'Thrash the Trash' campaign, to highlight the growing rat menace - the number of sightings has rocketed by almost a third in the past year.

The push comes as residents in Audley have complained of regular sightings of rats in and around their homes.

One couple have been forced to flee their flat after rats, which spread diseases such as salmonella, murine typhus, and Weil's disease, were seen.

Sharon Percival, 39, of Brunel Drive, said rats scurrying through her living room and the stench of a dead rat in a wall cavity has made her leave her home.

She said: "I can't live here anymore because of the rats. We liked the flat but the rats are all outside and one could come in at any time."

But the council says litterbugs are to blame for the rat explosion. Coun Mohammed Khan, executive member for housing

and neighbourhoods, said that those who drop litter, dump bin bags and other rubbish in the streets and on waste ground, are feeding the rat population and must stop.

Now Blackburn with Darwen Council will display two large billboards on Bolton Road, Darwen, and Ainsworth Street, Blackburn, headed by the slogan 'Litter = Rats'.

And 25 buses and 10 bus shelters will also carry the anti-rat posters.

Coun Khan said: "Throwing food on to the streets or in parks is encouraging the rat population.

"Rats are on the increase across the country and in the borough.

"While many of these reports are mistaken and are actually mice, we wouldn't deny that there is a problem and we are doing our best to combat it by appointing more pest control officers.

"But like the rest of the campaign we know that we can only succeed if local people are prepared to take responsibility and to make sure they don't throw out or drop food in the streets or open spaces."

In Blackburn with Darwen there were 2,220 sightings of rats and mice between 2001 and 2002. From 2002 to 2003 there have been 2,926 reports of rats infesting shops, homes and businesses - a rise of 32 per cent.

In Audley Mrs Percival, who suffers from Curson syndrome which affects her bone structure, is currently sleeping at her mother's one bedroom home and her husband Michael on the settee of another relative's house because of the problems with rats.

Her neighbour Rosemary Mohammed said she too had seen the rats.

Rosemary said: "I have seen big rats running around in the backyard and behind the dog kennel. It's awful."

Sally MacAllister, neighbourhood services manager at the council, said that bait had been laid at Mrs Percival's house by council officers but it was no longer being taken.

Meanwhile the council have prosecuted 10 people from Blackburn and Darwen for dumping offences as part of their purge on litter and mess.

One man from the Corporation Park area of Blackburn was prosecuted by Blackburn Magistrates for fly-tipping building waste on open land and was fined £200.

Nine were prosecuted for dog fouling with fines ranging from £25 to £50 plus legal costs.