By Geoff Fox

Environmental health chiefs in Yorkshire are trying to sink their teeth into a gnawing problem ... the region's rat problem is spiralling out of control.
The area has the dubious honour of being named as one of only two in the UK to witness an increase in the number of rat infestations in the past 12 months – sparking fears of increased risk of the potentially deadly diseases they carry.
And in Leeds, the city's success as one of England's top party and nightclubbing centres is being blamed – as hundreds of revellers leave leftover takeaway food on the pavements after a night out.
Pest control expert Ken Howett of Leeds-based Action Pest Control said he had noticed a sharp upturn in business in the past two years.
"Leeds is regarded as a dirty city," said Mr Howett. "This isn't just street cleaning, it's people throwing leftover takeaways on to the pavements when they're coming home from a night out.
"It's good as far as we're concerned. But we're like funeral directors in that sense.
"I've had to deal with all sorts, especially in the week before Christmas with rats even getting into attics and eating the chocolate in kids' selection boxes."
In Leeds alone, the city council's pest control team received a staggering 5,000 calls last year about rat infestations and a further 5,000 in relation to mice and other pests.
And according to the research carried out by the National Pest Technicians Association the problem could become even worse with warmer winters and the push by local authorities for greater use of home compost bins – a haven for rodents – making it even easier for rats to breed successfully.
John Kilby, vice chairman of the National Pest Technicians Association and co-author of the body's National Rodent Report, said: "Rats are a vector of disease. People shouldn't panic, but they should be concerned."
Among the diseases borne and spread by rats are salmonella and Ieptospirosis – also known as Weil's disease – which can lead to fever and jaundice and causes between 10 and 12 deaths each year in the UK.
The report cites the proliferation of fast food shops as a main factor behind the rat population growth.
And it also puts a question mark over the decreases reported elsewhere in the UK. Mr Kilby claims this may have more to do with the tendency of a growing number of councils to charge for pest control services.
Biologist Nigel Binns believes the spiralling rodent population is playing an increasing role in the spread of food poisoning.
"Rats are a pest species which, apart from people finding them distasteful, spread disease and cause a hell of a lot of damage," said Mr Binns, who is also business development manager with Rentokil Pest Control.
"We think rats are playing a significant part in food poisoning cases such as salmonella and campylobacter.
"It's vital people deal with the problem rather than ignore it."

• The council's Pest Control phone line is 0113 247 6284

Ratfile

You need to know

Every day nearly four million rats are born world-wide – ten for every human.
It is estimated there are up to 60 million rats in the UK - that's one rat per person
They are known to carry nearly 70 diseases
Indications of mice and rats include shiny, dark droppings, chew marks on food containers, nests, tracks and trails
Rats live for up to 18 months in the wild.
They eat everything but prefer starch and protein-rich foods, such as cereals.
A single pair of rats can have 800 offspring in a year.

Keep that thing away from me

Keep rubbish in metal or heavy plastic cans with tight-fitting lids
Put compost bins on solid surfaces
Do not put too much food out for birds
Seal up any cracks or holes. A rat can get through a hole the size of a 10p.
Check cupboards regularly for spilled food and rodent droppings