SUPER rats? Gnaw way!

The head of Chorley Borough Council's environmental services has dismissed reports that rats are becoming immune to conventional poisons. And he rubbished claims that a growing number are set to overwhelm the area this winter.

A newspaper report last week claimed that the population of brown rats is developing a genetic resistance to the usual poisons, thus creating a breed of 'super rats'.

But environmental boss John Lechmere dubbed the story misleading, and said: "There's no problem with rats in Chorley and we are not experiencing any resistance." Mr Lechmere said his team has a strict control policy for rodents and said they have had no problems using the normal poisons to deal with infestations. He said: "The way we deal with rat infestations is by using first and second generation coagulant poisons, which basically prevent the rats blood from clotting and kills them in a quick and painless way."

He said resistance to the first generation poisons has been known for years so it is nothing new. Mr Lechmere said resistance was largely a genetic abnormality, not something rats develop, adding: "There are other rodenticides available if all the others fail because of genuine resistance, but the reason many survive treatments is because they are not carried out properly - it is important to carry out a step-by-step process, which we in Chorley are very strict about."

He said it is because of this determination to 'get it right' that the council offers a free service to deal with rodent infestations. He also outlined steps everyone can take to prevent the problem.

Don't let refuse pile up in gardens or yards.

Be careful with litter and make sure all bags are secure in bin or outhouse.

Don't feed birds by leaving food in your garden - use a special table or feeder.