Pest control officers are proposing action after fears that Oxford is being overrun by rats.

Oxford City Council's environmental health department has been overwhelmed by sightings of rats over the past few months.

The number of complaints, combined with a lack of resources, has meant shocked residents face up to nine days' wait for help.

The Oxford Mail revealed earlier this month how diners at the Granada service station, near the Pear Tree roundabout, were horrified to see rats running across the car park. Now pest control officers, who fear the spread of disease if the problem is not tackled, are proposing a £3,500 test baiting programme to monitor the rat population.

They hope the action will reveal the full extent of the problem and pinpoint concentrations of rats.

Peter Allen, head of environmental health in Oxford, said: "The control of rats and mice is very important - it is basic to public health.

"We are getting increased complaints or sightings of rats and it is a case of preparing potential action.

"The big danger is that rats are known carriers of disease. We have to treat them seriously."

The city council provides a free rat control service - but has found itself increasingly stretched recently.

One possible reason given for the increase in rat sightings is Thames Water axing its sewer baiting and rat control programme.

Councillors on the city council's health and environment committee were discussing the problem today.

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