Barrow: resident says rats are 'absolutely everywhere'

Jonathan Harkin, who lives in the area, said that he has told Westmorland and Furness Council about littering but little gets done.  

"Nothing is being collected up," he said. "If nothing is done it's going to get worse and worse." 

"They don't take pride in the town," Mr Harkin said. "Absolute dump round Barrow now. Those rats will take over in the end." 

Mr Harkin said that he wants 'a lovely place to live' and felt sorry for a younger generation growing up in an unclean environment. He said that he spotted rats near the Little Subs play centre on Rawlinson Street. 

'Fearless' rats were spotted in the grassy area between Rawlinson Street and Abbey Road recently (Image: Submitted)

The council said that it is 'aware' of complaints about rats in the area. 

"It is believed two commercial bins are the cause of the problem," a spokesperson said. They added that the authority is working with the landowner who is aware of the issue and has employed pest controllers who are dealing with the issue. 

Last month, a man who did not want to be named approached The Mail after spotting a 'fearless' rat running at a mum and a child on the grassy area bordering Abbey Road and Rawlinson Street. 

READ MORE: Residents shock after unannounced controlled explosion in Grange

The man captured two of the rats on his phone in broad daylight. He claimed he saw 60 rats in the space of five minutes 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," he said. 

At the time (September 11) the council also blamed the two commercial bins and said the landowner was aware and they were 'monitoring the situation.'