A West Belfast community is calling for support to deal with an infestation of “rats the size of cats”.
The Beechmount Resident Collective said that in recent weeks they have received numerous reports of rats coming into people’s gardens with some families scared to let their children out to play because of the rodents.
They say the issue is due to a combination of factors, including fly-tipping in alleyways throughout the community and an underground river that runs underneath numerous properties across the Beechmount area.
Concerns have also been raised about numerous empty properties in the area that have also attracted rats and other pests.
Residents told Belfast Live that “huge” rats could be seen climbing the curtains of one empty house infested with the rodents.
BRC said the areas worst affected by the rats are Beechmount Grove, Beechmount Walk, Beechmount Crescent, Beechmount Avenue, Ancomri Street, and Locan Street, with some residents saying the problem is so bad they may sell their homes.
