Farnworth: Mum's fears over rat problems at her home

Chelsea Bainbridge, 27, says the issues of rodents in the property has been going on since August.

Bolton at Home told The Bolton News officers will investigate the issue.

However, Chelsea fears her children will be bitten by rodents.

She said: “I moved into the property at the beginning of August with my four children and within a week or two I could hear scratching and my partner said that sounds like rats and I said it can’t be, so I told my neighbours.

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"They said they knew about a rat problem because they had pest control out previously.

Hole where a rat has dug under the door (Image: Chelsea Bainbridge)

“About five or six weeks ago there was a lot of scratching in my son’s bedroom and my partner said there is a T-shirt in the floorboards, so I looked and there was a T-shirt pulled through, like the rat was pulling the t-shirt through the floorboard.

"I pulled it back and you could see evidence that it was rats, they had been gnawing at the floorboards and ripped the t-shirt.

“I emailed Bolton at Home. They came out and replaced one floorboard in my son’s bedroom but since then the noise of the rats has become louder.

A t-shirt ripped by rats (Image: Chelsea Bainbridge)

“The Wednesday night just after Christmas, I got in bed and I could hear this excessive scratching and it sounded like it was under my bed, I put my hand on the floor and this rat shot off from behind my bed base and down into the floorboards and I’m not talking hamster size, I’m talking a good size 5/6/7 shoe.

“My son is now petrified at night-time because he can hear noises.

“I’ve emailed Bolton at Home multiple times saying it needs to be sorted.

“The rats have chewed the carpets, doorframes, under the doors, they are chewing everything.

“Bolton At Home said they will be sending pest control out next week.

Hole in the floorboards (Image: Chelsea Bainbridge)

“I’m just fed up now and I’m scared if my children are bitten, they could be left with infections, and I don’t find it fair that it’s taken so long for Bolton at Home to do anything.

“I’m petrified for my children.”

A spokesperson for Bolton at Home said: “We are in touch with Miss Bainbridge and we’re going to visit her home to investigate what’s causing the issue with rats and get it sorted.”