'More rats than people in East Lancashire'

Environmental campaigners have revealed that the area's rat population has risen to more than the 500,000 human population. And dumped burgers, chips and kebabs are helping create "super-rats" who are bigger, stronger and live longer.

With over a quarter of people in the area admitting to dropping litter, council environmental chiefs have said that something must be done to clean up the streets to stop the increase.

And local councils are now supporting a North West Keep Britain Tidy campaign tackling the issue.

Adverts will be running in cinemas across Lancashire, depicting a couple cosying up in bed together - with a horde of rats crawling across them, which asks how close do we have to get?' It is also planned that this short film will be shown in Blackburn Shopping Centre.

Coun Mohammed Khan, executive member for housing and neighbourhoods, said: "Most litter gets dropped on pavements at lunchtime. The food then breaks down, leaving a dirty stain and a tasty meal for vermin.

"The answer is simple, put any food you have left inside black bags and make sure these are placed inside your bin and not on the floor."

Around 60 per cent of rodents carry Weil's disease, which causes flu-like symptoms or even kidney and heart failure.

And residents who have been plagued by rats in the Intack area of Blackburn said they were concerned the rodents would spread disease. Martin Baybutt, of Accrington Road, said: "We have never seen so many rats - they are everywhere.

"People are opening their bin lids or going into their gardens and they are there. It is disgusting."

Emma Brennan, a spokesperson for ENCAMS Keep Britain Tidy campaign, said: "We've reached a stage where the number of rats is more than the number of people in the region."

Jo Whitaker, senior regional director of Keep Britain Tidy added: "Whilst a quarter of the region admits to dropping food, I believe the real figure is much higher."