A park popular with dog-walkers and children has become overrun with rats, people living nearby have warned.
Families who enjoy visiting Pitsea's Northlands Park have been disturbed to see the number of rodents living in the area.
One couple, from Mill Green Place, Pitsea, claim the rats feel so at home in the park they are often spotted taking a swim, walking on the path or dining on waste.
Betty Jeffery, 63, who runs clubs for the disabled, said: "These rats are not known for being environmentally friendly. It is possible a child will get bitten as youngsters do play in the park.
Her husband Colin, 60, added: "The rats are all over the place.
"Last Saturday, I was on the footpath between the two lakes and there were five on the footpath."
A Basildon Council spokesman said: "Areas which have large expanses of water linked by drains do attract rats. Consequently, we do carry out a weekly inspection of this area of Northlands Park.
"If we find there is a problem, our Environmental Health officers are called in to set traps, just as they would do if rats were reported anywhere else, be it industrial areas or people's homes."
Published Thursday October 24, 2002
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