I RECENTLY had a rabbit running in my back garden, very nice you would say.

But since that I have a more unwelcome visitor in the shape of a huge brown rat.

We hear that we are never too far from a rat.

After buying a trap we caught two in three days.

Time for action I thought, so I phoned the council offices and asked to be put through to the vermin control office.

I spoke to a young lady and told her that not only do we have rats in our back garden but my neighbour has seen rats running up and down the toilet waste pipes.

I was surprised when she told me the council rat policy did not exist and that the council would not do a thing to prevent infestation of our properties.

Surely the council has a duty of care?

Any home with young children who may play on lawns that rats have passed over could be in great danger from the germs and disease that they spread. 

MARTIN CRANHAM Windrush Way, Abingdon