Two-year rat problem 'absolute hell' for residents

People in a County Tyrone town are calling for urgent action over the "absolute hell" of what they say is an "ongoing rat problem" in their area.

Some residents of Church Court in Strabane, which is owned by Woven Housing, have said despite the issue persisting for almost two years, no permanent solution has been found.

One resident, Clare Earley, said the back door to her home had to be replaced after rats tried to gnaw their way through it, and that she no longer lets her children play outside due to health and safety concerns.

Woven Housing said it is aware of "an intermittent issue with rodents in the Church Court area" and is taking the issue of pest control "very seriously".

A number of residents have told BBC News NI they believe rats are gaining access to the land at the back of their properties through holes in a stone wall from an adjoining work yard.

BBC News NI contacted the owner of the yard, who said he would not be commenting on the matter.

In a statement, a spokesperson for Derry City and Strabane District Council said that the issue has been reported to the council's environmental health team.

"While council does not operate a pest control service, our officers have been providing information and advice to householders on pest control and effective ways to deal with unwelcome rodents," the spokesperson said.

Claire Earley lives in her home with her five children and said the number of rats in the area has become out of control.

"They tried to eat their way through the back door of my house and it had to be replaced," Earley said.

"I have five kids, I've a full house, aged from six months to 16 years old, and it's just been an absolute nightmare.

"The rats are just running around the back garden, and I can't even open the windows.

"Even the bathroom window - you can't open it because it's right beside the alley where they are."

She added that her children's toys had to be dumped "because the rats got at them".

Earley said the issue has been ongoing for about two years and has got worse over time.

"It's constantly been flagged with Woven [Housing]. We've had pest control out, environmental health has been out, but we're just going round and round in circles.

"We don't seem to be getting anywhere.

"You're afraid they're going to come up through the window. It just feels filthy, with them running around - it's no way to live."

Geraldine Kelly has said the number of rats in the area has left residents feeling petrified.

"People have found dead rats in bins, they have had bins damaged, and they have even eaten through rat cages, which is absolutely crazy," Kelly said.

"They have just been absolutely everywhere," she added.

Claire Mullen said the rats have destroyed her back garden and that she had to dump all of her garden furniture because it was so badly damaged.

"I keep the back door locked at all times," she said, adding she keeps the key out of the way of her children because she's "petrified" they'll leave the door open.

"If you're standing washing dishes and you look out, you just see these massive rats running across the walls."

Mullen said her two children, aged two and 14, are frightened to go outside.

"One of my boys has autism and would have always wanted to sleep with the window open and a fan on him as a sensory thing to try to get to sleep, but we obviously can't keep it open because we're petrified the rats are going to get in."

Mullen said she is "constantly worried", fearing that rats will get into her home, and said she dreads every time she has to take the bins out as rats congregate nearby.

Another resident, Charlene Mongan, who has four children aged 12 to 17, said: "It's just absolute hell at the minute because none of the children can go out onto the street," Mongan said.

"The rats are running across the wall beside my house day and night, climbing up and down.

"There are so many kids in the area, and they've had their wee bikes and other things thrown out because they were completely chewed to pieces."

Mongan said she found a dead rat in the engine of her car last year.

"Before it died, it ate through so many wires in the car, and I had to pay for those repairs myself."

Mongan directly appealed to Woven Housing to tackle the issue and find a permanent solution.

"There are nine houses here, and every one of them has seen rats in the area, and we don't see an end in sight."

In a statement, Woven Housing said: "We've been actively working and will continue to work with council's health, housing and public conveniences team and the adjacent landowner(s) to manage the situation.

"Woven Housing Association takes the issue of pest control very seriously and will act quickly where it is aware of an issue.

"In this case, a work order for pest control intervention was made on the same day the issue was reported to the association."

They said any tenant affected or concerned can contact them.