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<\/p>\nSuper rats as big as cats are set to invade homes in the wake of Britain being battered by rain.<\/p>\n
Experts claim the floods that have ravaged the country this week after Storm Ciar\u00e1n will lead to giant rodent invasions as they become \u201chellbent\u201d on seeking shelter.<\/p>\n
And the giant beasts will take \u201cno prisoners\u201d in their attempts to get out of the flood-ravaged wild.<\/p>\n
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Pest control expert Ian Helands said: \u201cThis is the next thing to come in this nightmarish scenario. Floods will drive even more rats out of their burrows, forcing them to find a new place to nest.<\/p>\n
\u201cRats are strong swimmers and are capable of 72 hours\u2019 nonstop swimming in their search for a new home. They will be hellbent on finding new shelter and they will be coming for dry, warm areas with food preferably.<\/p>\n
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\u201cThey will be coming to your homes and these are not small rats, they are now larger than I have ever seen.\u201d<\/p>\n
Mr Helands said the size of the rats comes down to what we are putting in our bins.<\/p>\n
He said: \u201cBrits have a fondness for chucking food down their sinks – leftovers when rinsing plates and so on,\u201d he explained.<\/p>\n
\u201cSpaghetti, rice, sauces, it all goes down the sink and rats are incredibly clever. They can smell the food and follow the scent. And it is leading to the influx of rats, which are the biggest I\u2019ve ever seen, coming near our homes. They are very brave and very clever.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf they are wanting to find a way in, they will. It\u2019s hard to stop, and we are making the monsters ourselves.\u201d<\/p>\n
The British Pest Control Association (BPCA), is also urging householders to take preventative steps now to avoid the risk of an infestation.<\/p>\n
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Dee Ward-Thompson, BPCA Head of Technical, said: \u201cEach year winter weather forces some rats to seek warmer, indoor spaces near a source of food, but flooding can drive even more rats out of their burrows, forcing them to find a new place to nest.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey can travel along flooded drains, surviving even the most aggressive weather conditions, which is a definite concern from a public health perspective. Rats may use plumbing pipes, as well as unscreened vents or gaps in the eaves and roof edges, to gain access.<\/p>\n
\u201cRats are exceptionally agile and inside they will head under the floor or find a warm space to build a nest in the walls or loft.\u201d<\/p>\n
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Experts have recommended Brits plug any gaps, holes or crevices in exterior walls in a bid to prevent rats from gaining access in the first place. Drain covers should also be checked to ensure they fit properly and have not dislodged in the flooding.<\/p>\n
Communities across Britain are reeling after Storm Ciar\u00e1n battered homes and businesses.<\/p>\n
There is widespread flooding and damage around the UK, with thousands of homes left without power, hundreds of schools closed and major travel disruption.<\/p>\n
Southern England and the Channel Islands have been worst-hit by Ciar\u00e1n, with 80 flood warnings still in place across England.<\/p>\n
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