Pretty seaside village infested with ‘rats the size of dogs’

East Runton in Norfolk has long been a  tourist draw, especially for camping and caravan holidays, thanks to its quiet sandy beaches and long, winding footpaths.

But holidaymakers and locals alike have been getting more than they bargained for on the wildlife front recently, and have been forced to contend with a “colony” of “rats the size of dogs” taking over a local car park.

The large rodents appear to have seized a North Norfolk District Council-run site near Beach Road, with eyewitnesses describing the area as “absolutely infested”.

Locals have also said the rats “do not care about humans being around” and have dubbed the infestation a “disgusting health hazard”.

Runton Parish Council has hired Millennium Pest Control in a bid to tackle the problem, the Eastern Daily Press reports, with specialist workers Tony Bennet and James Trainer leading the response.

The company says the infestation has been developing over several months, with an emergency eight-week control programme currently underway.

Additional measures have also been recommended to local authories, including more frequent bin disposals and trimming back nearby hedgerows.

Time is of the essence, however, with Mr Bennet telling the EDP: “One pair of rats can have up to 1,000 babies a year if they have the right conditions.”

Callum Ringer, the council’s portfolio holder for IT, environmental and waste services said action was being taken to tackle the problem including baiting and shelter improvements.

He added that he was “unhappy” about the delay in responding to the issue but suggested there wasn’t an obvious “silver bullet” solution.