STAFF at a town centre taxi firm called Home and Away are being forced to endure some unwanted new neighbours - rats!

A driver at the firm raised the alarm after a rat ran over his foot in the car park in Burnley town centre.

Staff at Home and Away Taxis and other business owners in Gunsmith Place, at the top of Burnley bus station, say the rodents have been an increasing problem for months.

Paul Smith, a part-time worker with the taxi firm, said: "The problem is getting worse. A member of the public came into the office the other day and asked if I knew we had rats in the yard.''

The rats were out in the open yesterday. At 2.30pm in bright sunshine and with people driving in and out of the car park area a rat could be seen in the yard.

After a minute or so it ran to a corner and vanished behind a downspout. Rats continued to appear over the next half hour.

The yard is surrounded by empty offices, a shop, a shoe repair business, a taxi firm, a pizza firm, an Indian takeaway and an empty cafe. Mr Smith said: "There are rats there during the daytime and at night time. Only this morning I saw four rats within a ten minute period. There is a broken sewer down there.''

He said: "We first reported the rat problem more than six months ago. Environmental health officers have been to investigate but I don't know what action has been taken.

"They said they were going to serve a seven day notice on the owners of the properties.

"The area is open to the public and the rats are still there running all around the yard. There seems to be more than ever running here, there and everywhere.''

Burnley's environmental health and cleansing manager Andy Mason said: "We have been involved a couple of times in the past and are now investigating a report of rat infestation in the yard.

"There are a couple of empty properties and there is a drainage defect. We are laying bait but obviously we have to be careful and we are also inspecting the drainage system.

"If repairs are necessary we will be working with the occupiers or owners. We are aware of the problem and are dealing with it."

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