Residents are furious they may soon have to pay to rid their village of rats.

Alan Feast, of Appleton, near Abingdon, is asking residents to lobby the Vale of White Horse District Council to make sure plans to charge for domestic rat extermination are scuppered.

Mr Feast, who lives in Netherton Road with his wife, Pamela, said: "Appleton is certainly not overrun but every year we are troubled by rats.

"I have seen rats in my garden and other residents have also seen them around the village. "I think to make us pay for the council to come out is absolutely appalling."

Robert Akers, head of food and safety at the Vale, said charging for domestic rat treatment had been put forward under a review of funding of pest control services.

He said the move would only go ahead if councillors approve the change on Wednesday, February 16.

Story date: Monday 14 February

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