Rats live in drains, sewers and on river banks

The exceptionally warm weather is being blamed for the 20% increase in the rat population.

Middlesbrough Council's pest controllers are getting between 70 and 100 reports a day and have to take on extra staff to cope.

Chris Hudson, Middlesbrough council's senior rodent officer, said there were six pest controllers tackling the influx.

He said: "There have been a growing number of complaints about rats in the Middlesbrough area.

"There are a number of reasons for this. We have had hot spells recently and also mild winters which gives rats a chance to breed over the winter period"

Mr Hudson added that the large number of rat reports meant each had to be prioritised before being dealt with.