RATS attracted by dumped bread are scuttling around a popular Oxford children's play area, causing a health hazard.

Michael Kennedy, who lives in Charles Street, near the play area in Manzil Way, off Cowley Road, said calls to city workers to deal with the vermin appeared to be falling on deaf ears.

Mr Kennedy said: "I have never in my life seen as many rats.

"At one time, I counted upwards of 40 rats there.

"They are nesting in a flowerbed and this problem should have been addressed straightaway.

"It's unhealthy, it's where kids are playing. It's a communal area and it's right beside the road where everybody's walking and I think it's just totally unhygienic. It's vermin and it's disgusting."

Mr Kennedy reported the problem to Oxford City Council on March 4, but said nothing had been done.

He said: "Imagine if you are a tourist and you walk past here and you see this. It's got to the stage where something needs to be done immediately."

Council spokesman Louisa Dean said Mr Kennedy's pleas had not been ignored, but said the problem was more complicated than it initially sounded.

She said: "The problems in Manzil Way with vermin have mainly been caused by people leaving excessive amounts of bread on the ground for birds.

"We would now urge residents to stop throwing bread in the area for birds as it is creating a public health problem by providing food for vermin.

"The environmental health team have been working hard to reduce the problem, but they are prevented from using some of their pest control measures because the site is open and widely used by the public."

Parents using the play area said they would not return after hearing about the rat problem.

Wendy Parsons, 27, from Abingdon, was at the park with two of her three children and said: "I know there was a lot of rubbish problems but I didn't know there were rats running around. It's not a very nice thought.

"Now I know, I won't be very keen to come back."

Alice Cooper, 25, of Kidlington, who was with 2-year-old Freya Grace, added: "It's disgusting, it's absolutely awful, especially if the kids fall over and get their face on the floor.

"This would definitely put me off coming back."

Joyce and Eric Navarro, of Marston, were with their son Jhedrick, but said he was so keen on the park they would probably come back.

Mrs Navarro said: "It's quite scary. You have to think about the safety of the kids playing around here. They need to clean the place but, until Jhedrick sees one, I think we'll still come here."