A MAN was horrified when he came across dozens of 'fearless' rats - some of which ran at a frightened mum and child.

The witness said he was walking near the grassy area bordering Abbey Road and Rawlinson Street in Barrow at around 5pm on Saturday (September 7) when he came across the rodents in broad daylight. 

He managed to quickly capture two of the rats on his phone on the pedestrian pathway.

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He said: "In total, I'd say I saw around 60 rats in the space of five minutes - all over the grass strip, car park and bins outside Tesco.

"This was at 5pm in daylight with heavy pedestrian traffic, so you can imagine how worse it must be nocturnally.

"I saw at least three of them run at a woman and small child, and most appeared fearless, given their appearance in broad daylight.

"I think the child thought they were pigeons and was crying afterwards - they were so bold.

(Image: Submitted) "It seems the rats are residents here and conveniently for them, directly behind this is a number of commercial dumpsters.

"Between the grassy area and the car park belonging to Lasertag is a low wooden fence with an extensive burrow/tunneling system going under a paved pathway.

"They were running along the fence line, in and out of the dumpster and running across the grassy area as pedestrians and families walked by.

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"Their appearance with such heavy pedestrian traffic means this situation has not arisen overnight and it seems to me to be a serious failing on the council's part."

A spokesperson for Westmorland and Furness Council said: "The council is aware of complaints about rats in this area. It is believed two commercial bins are the cause of the problem.

"The landowner is aware and has arranged for action to be taken, and the council is monitoring the situation."