Overview

• A 22-inch rat captured in a Normanby home is believed to be the largest ever found in the UK.
• Redcar & Cleveland Council retains a pest officer for public land but domestic infestations force residents to hire private services.
• Eston Ward councillors David Taylor and Stephen Martin have demanded a comprehensive borough-wide vermin survey and increased funding for pest control.
• Social housing providers and Northumbrian Water have agreed to collaborate on a coordinated pest treatment plan across the borough.
• Experts warn that overflowing waste, aging drainage systems and rodenticide resistance are fueling larger, more resilient rat populations.