HOUSEHOLDERS near the site of a new shopping centre fear construction work has prompted rats to move in to their gardens.

Earth moving by contractors at the former Frontierland site began earlier this month.

Since then, rats have been seen regularly in the grounds of houses on West End Road, which borders the site.

Resident John Barnes (pictured) said: "I can only think that they've been disturbed by the digging.

One of our neighbours has seen one running around his rockery, and others have had them in gardens and near bins." He added: "A big, sleek one shot past me on the patio a few days ago."

Mr Barnes says residents are worried that their unwanted guests will persist since they have been discouraged from acting by council pest control charges.

Earlier this year, a £10 charge was introduced by Lancaster City council to carry out exterminations.

Mr Barnes even claims that he was even advised to throw any more rats he found down a manhole!

A council spokesman said: "The £10 charge is discretionary - we won't charge if the rats are passing through from elsewhere."

He added: "The cost is nominal.

It doesn't even cover the full cost," and stressed that the council routinely bait sewers and dykes.

"Rats will get disturbed with developments of this kind," he said, and advised anyone who sees a rat near their home to report it.

The average pair of rats produce 2000 offspring a year and, thanks to floods and milder winters in recent years, there are now disputed claims that there's one rat for every person in the UK - that's 60 million!