Ayr Advertiser | News | My home is infested with rats and mice

Saturday, 5th July, 2008

Published: Tuesday, 13th May, 2008 10:30

My home is infested with rats and mice

By Roisin McGroarty

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VERMIN AGONY: Jacqueline Goodall shows off a mousetrap

A FAMILY are living in terror after their house became infested with rats.

Mum Jacqueline Goodall was horrified to find her West Crescent home in Muirhead almost overrun with vermin.

Jacqueline, 39, who lives with her son Graeme, 19, have allegedly been told by environmental officers that they’ve to check their cupboards daily for dead rats after poison pelts were put out - and if any are found they’re to remove them.

Her mum Irene Binning explained: “Jacqui’s house is absolutely spotless but she is so shaken from this. I’ve had eight strokes but I’ve had to go around and seal all her kitchen cupboards with tape. The other day I even had to take round two bottles of bleach and pour them over the counters so if anything goes on that they will die.

“She is terrified of rats. I phoned the environmental health, they came and we were the first people on the street to give them evidence - the man went out with a bag of four white mice and a rat.

“She’s overrun by them. I don’t think it’s right in this day and age that she’s expected to check every day to see if there is dead rats and if there is she’s to move them - it’s like we’re in medieval times. She just can’t do it, she’s terrified.”

Irene, 71, added that other neighbours on the Crescent are subject to the same horrors with one woman having several rats falling on top of her head as she pulled a sheet out of a cupboard.

She continued: “They think there is a tunnel being made between the four houses here. My daughter doesn’t even want to be in her own house. I’m in a sheltered house and I can’t have anyone staying over.

“With all the poison that has been put down I’m not sure how the rats are not lying out in the street dead but you’ve got to be careful in the house because if one bites you and won’t let go - you’ve got to take off its head.”

A South Ayrshire Council spokesman said: “In the last few weeks, our environmental health officers have been actively working with tenants to treat West Crescent for rats.

“Unfortunately, there has been some indiscriminate dumping of refuse in the burn that runs close by and this may be attracting the rats.

“On May 2 we were called by a representative for Ms Goodhall, and we responded on the same day. However, the caller had given us the wrong address and we could not gain access to the property.

“Ms Goodhall called again on May 6 and officers visited her that day. A treatment on the house was carried out and Ms Goodhall confirmed that this was undertaken to her satisfaction.

“We will continue to work with tenants to advise on the correct disposal of refuse and to positively assist in making the gardens and general area around the burn less of an attraction to the rats.”

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