AN elderly woman who found a dead rat in her back yard was shocked to be told to remove it herself.

Alice Calvert, 72, of Pemberton Street, Roe Lee, Blackburn, found the rodent when she returned home from holiday.

After her initial shock, Alice contacted Blackburn with Darwen Council hoping environmental health officials would remove it.

Alice assumed that would not be a problem as pest control had dealt with a rat infestation in the houses along her street before.

But Alice said a council employee told her that the rat was on her property, therefore it was her responsibility to remove it and she was advised to throw it in the bin.

The council maintains that it is the home owner's responsibility, but advises anyone removing dead vermin to take simple precautions.

Alice said: "I went on holiday to Majorca for two weeks and left two of my knee-high water containers, which collect water for my plants, in my back yard. I went into the yard and saw the dead rat in one of them. It was bigger than a sewer rat."

Sewer rats can reach 17inches in length, which includes up to eight inches for the tail.

Alice said: "As soon as I saw it I rang up the health and safety at the council, but they told me it was my responsibility to remove it. They said to throw it in my bin.

"I keep my yard clean. I power-washed it before I went away.

"I saw it and I didn't want to touch it because it could have a disease or anything and the council wanted me to get rid of it What do I pay my rates for?

"The whole street had rats years ago in the roofs and the council got rid of them, and I thought they would do the same again.

"I don't know what I'm going to do."

Peter Hunt, the council's director of environment, said: "It is up to home owners to dispose of dead vermin found on their private property. We'd advise anyone to take simple precautions such as wearing gloves, or using a shovel, to put the creature in a plastic bag and put it in the bin."