Mum begs for help to tackle rat infestation

DROPPINGS FOUND IN KITCHEN, LIVING ROOM AND BEDROOMS

- By Kristy Dawson Reporter [e-mail]

A COUPLE in a rat-infested house with their two young children say they are "living in a nightmare".

Millie Feetham, 18, her partner Lewis Peak, 20, and their two children Arlo, two, and Dolly, eight months, live in a two-bedroom rented house in Shiremoor, North Tyneside.

For the past three months, they have been finding rats and their droppings in their kitchen, living room and in both bedrooms. The rodents have made a nest with Lewis' clothes in a wardrobe and created holes in the floor under the kitchen kickboards.

Millie and Lewis have already caught 10 rats by setting up traps inside the address and are still finding more droppings. Millie said they have begged Aurora Affordable Homes, who manages the property, for help.

The housing company has now apologised to the family for the difficulties they have been experiencing.

They say they are arranging for pest control services to attend and have offered alternative accommodation.

The mum-of-two said: "We're just living in a nightmare. I feel dirty, I feel disgusting. My family shouldn't be made to live like this.

"My kids like to play on the floor so I'm really anxious. I'm constantly washing the kids' hands because it's so dangerous. I know the rats are in my bedroom and my kids' bedroom.

"I'm petrified of going upstairs to put my kids to bed or going to the kids during the night because I don't know where they are. I'm scared to make food as I don't know if they've been on the bench or where they've been. "The walls are all plasterboard, there's no walls that are brick. The rats are chewing holes through the walls and travelling up the wall cavities.