Fears have been sparked that a rat "epidemic" has broken out near Aberford Park after a wave of sitings were reported in a matter of weeks.

Worried residents claim the current drainage work being carried out at the Borehamwood park's lake is to blame.

They believe it has disturbed the natural habitat of the rodents -- thought to be water rats -- and caused them to venture into nearby gardens seeking food and new homes.

Christine Jennings, who lives in Brook Road with her husband and their pregnant daughter, had two of the black, 12 inch rats in her garden last week. She says she has also seen them on numerous occasions in the past few weeks running across the street from the park.

She said: "It is very worrying to think there are rats roaming our gardens in broad daylight. My four-year-old granddaughter usually plays in our garden but right now we cannot let her. We only started seeing the rats since work began on the lake and I'm sure that their nests or whatever they live in must have been disturbed.

"We have had poison put down so hopefully that will help to get rid of them but until I feel sure that they are not going to be a regular visitor I will not be happy with my family using the garden."

Another person who has seen the vermin around Brook Road, Grove Road, Aberford Road and Gateshead Road is Mick Lewis, a gardener who lives in Sullivan Way, Elstree.

He said: "A lot of my work takes place in that area and I think there is a bit of an epidemic of rats there. I have seen them in people's gardens as well as in the road and all the time it has been daylight.

"I suspect they are looking for food or somewhere else to live as their original homes have been disturbed by workmen. Of course they carry disease and in my job I have come across a lot of rats. But these particular rats are pretty nasty. If they get into your house you've really got problems so I do hope that the council acknowledges them and does not let it come to that."

The local vicar, the Rev Richard Leslie of St Michael's Church, has also seen the rats but thinks that people have no need to panic.

He said: "I haven't actually had any in my garden but I know that other people living here have and I do see them while I am walking around here. I see them all the time. They usually stay near the park but I suppose if their homes have been destroyed they are going to have to find somewhere else to live. There's no need to worry though, the poor things will probably all be put down with poison before they can set up home in our gardens."

The advice to anyone who thinks they have rats around their home or suspects that rats are settling there is to telephone the council's pest control unit.

A spokeswoman for the unit said: "We are aware that a few workmen working on Aberford lake have seen the odd rat and that rats have been seen in the area. But as yet there has been no trace of any settling in people's gardens.

"We suggest at this stage that people keep an eye out for them as well as for signs of their presence such as droppings. If people do see them they should contact us and we can deal with the problem."

Residents who suspect they are being visited by rats should telephone the council's senior pest control technician, Alan O'Brien, on 0181 207 2277.

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