Britons are being warned about the worst winter ever for rat invasions as wet conditions could double the number of sightings.
Experts say heavy rain forecasts could see more rodents invading homes.
Steve Wales, from Bespoke Pest Control, said he has noticed a surge in calls about rats - and "it’s getting worse".
He explained that he recently came face to face with some rats "the size of a small cat or dog" during call-outs.
Britons are being warned about the worst winter ever for rat invasions as wet conditions could double the number of sightings (stock image)Getty"I’ve been working in this industry for 30 years and because of a cocktail of problems combining at the same time, I have never had more calls about rats - and it’s getting worse," Wales told The Sun.
"Ten years ago, I received about two calls a week about rats - now it’s more like three rat calls every day."
According to global experts in pest control, Rentokil, there was a 30 per cent surge in the number of rats in 2022.
Today, the firm said they have seen an 83 per cent jump in rats over the last three months.
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It it believed that the surge in rats is due to badly maintained drains, cheaply fitted pipes in homes, and particularly wet weather.
A yellow weather warning has been issued this week for rain and wind.
Wales said: "All the rain this week will see the drains flood, and that pushes the rats out.
"Rats can swim - but they look for dryer places when water levels rise, like on top of garages and inside walls if they can get in."
Experts say heavy rain forecasts could see more rodents invading homes
PEXELSWales has also raised concerns about diseases including - Leptospirosis or Weil's disease - which rats can pass onto humans.
He explained that the slashing of funding for bin collections has also contributed to the problem.
"They only need about 40mm of water and 40g of food a day, and humans make it easy for them," he said.
"What with all the fat poured down drains and food around homes, we have given them a perfect place to live in our sewers and drains."