RESIDENTS of a town say it has become overrun by rampaging feral rats living in an abandoned pet shop.
Disgruntled locals have lived with the infestation for months and the rodents have been spotted drinking out of puddles and chewing through vital car parts at nearby dealerships.
The “rat hotel” is the former Stalham Angling and Pet Centre in the quaint market town of Stalham which closed following a blaze last May.
However, the property is still full of animal feed and bedding, which has attracted a vast number of the vermin.
The dirty rodents have become a regular sight for passers-by and can often be seen licking at the windows of the store and running riot inside.
The problem is now so out of control that locals say they’re forced to dodge them on the street.
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George Williams, who lives in the town, said people walking down the High Street give the shop a wide berth to avoid the rogue rodents.
He said: “The rats are regularly seen at the windows. It is shocking and people cross the street rather than face the sight of rodents licking the windows.
“The pet shop closed very suddenly after a fire and it was left fully stocked with food and bedding. It’s become the perfect rat hotel.”
Now the rodents have started to venture out and are causing concern for surrounding homes and businesses.
Gary Arthur and Ellis Speirs run two separate car repair businesses behind the store and say swarms of rats have damaged vehicles.
Mr Speirs, from Ellis Autos Stalham, said: “They are having a disco in there and out here it is rife as well. It is like the floor is moving.
“It is a really bad infestation and we are bearing the brunt of it as they are starting to damage the vehicles.”
Mr Arthur, who runs GA Restoration, said he had a rat chew through the cables of a customer’s motor after the vehicle was left in the yard overnight.
He explained: “It got in the bonnet and chewed the wiring.
“It is becoming a hazard, not only to us in the yard, but the public on the street as well.”
Locals started reporting the infestation 11 weeks ago to North Norfolk District Council, urging officers to act.
Kevin Bayes, the mayor of Stalham and a district councillor, said he had reported the problem as soon as he knew about it to the Environmental Protection team.
The council issued a notice to the owner of the building on February 23, which told him to sort out the issue within four weeks.
A reminder was sent on March 24, asking for evidence of action taken by March 27.
However, Mr Bayes said the time has now lapsed and the council will now be looking into legally gaining entry into the building to sort the problem.
He said: “It is not good for the town.
“It is disappointing that we have got some owners that don’t take care of the properties in the town.”
A spokesperson for North Norfolk District Council said: “Environment Health Officers have been acting on a reported rat issue in Stalham for several months.
“NNDC wrote to the property owner in January when rats were reported to us, requesting baiting be undertaken, a request which was not acted upon.
“The property was then served a section 83 Public Health Act Notice in February giving 28 days for compliance.
“In late March just as the notice expired, officers were contacted by the property insurers who were involved due to a fire at the address.
“A combination lock has now fitted to the front door, and baiting is due to take place.”