BAIT boxes are to be installed along Morecambe promenade in a bid to reduce the number of rats living in the sea-defences.

Local fisherman, James Milner, told The Citizen this week that the number of rats were increasing rapidly and that the problem could spread to residential areas if it was not controlled.

"Is this the image that Morecambe wants as a holiday resort?" asked Mr Milner, who fears the number of rats could increase further if Bubbles is demolished and the site just left.

Mr Milner, who has enjoyed fishing off the promenade for 20 years, says the rats can now been seen the full length of the promenade, from the cliffs at Heysham down to Bare. They are also present earlier in the evening, said Mr Milner, who feels the sea-defence rocks provide them with "a perfect habitat".

Public Health and Safety Manager for Lancaster City Council, Steve Mann, said that the council was well aware of the problem which his department and the city's engineers were working to solve.

Purpose-built bait boxes were about to be fixed at 25 points along the promenade. These metal containers would be locked and designed so that only rodents could enter.

"Obviously we want to get rid of the rats, but we have to ensure that whatever we do is not harmful to people, especially children who might be playing nearby, or to other animals such as dogs which use the sea-front," said Mr Mann.

He added that the sea-front was not a normal habitat for rats, but they were attracted by litter and bits of food that were thrown away.