A RESIDENT has called for urgent action after rodents were spotted inside homes and dead rats were found in the street.

Dad-of-three Martyn Cordell described the situation in Leeds Road, Nelson, as ‘horrible’.

The 25-year-old, who lives with his girlfriend Kirsty Vallier, 24, and three daughters, including 18-week-old Poppy, has seen several rats roaming around the family’s house and chewing through the floorboards.

He said: “It’s filthy. Who wants to live with rats?”

Pendle Council bosses said they are aware of the problems in Leeds Road, Nelson.

Mr Cordell said: “It’s like living in a horrible place. I rang the council two or three times and they did not do anything. They just told me it will cost between £30 and £40 to remove them. I’m not paying that. It’s not my fault I have this problem.”

Mr Cordell first noticed there was a rodent problem three months after moving into his home on October 25.

Recalling the first sighting in January, he said: “I had come home from taking my greyhound for a walk and caught him sniffing around the house. I knew something was wrong.

“A small creature sped past me and stood at the centre of the living room. I realised it was a brown rat.”

Mr Cordell told his family not to enter the house for an hour as he turned his home ‘upside down’ to try to find the rodent.

Mr Cordell has since seen further sightings of rats inside his home and recently found one lying dead in Leeds Road. He said he has contacted the council several times, as well as Pendle MP Andrew Stephenson and East Lancashire Pest Control.

Ward councillor Mohammed Iqbal has said he was aware of a general problem of vermin in Nelson and neighbouring town, Brierfield.

The former Pendle council leader said: “If people leave food on the streets that’s an attraction to the rats.

“I would urge people to contact the council and the officers. They will come out and work with residents to address the problem.”

Pendle Council introduced a fee of £29 for pest control treatments for rats in 2016. There is no charge for removing rat carcases which are found in the street.

Philip Mousdale, corporate director at Pendle Council, said: “We’ve visited the site and met with a number of residents on Leeds Road as well as a pest control contractor which is already dealing with the issue.

“A number of concerns have been highlighted to us which we’ll be working on over the coming days but in the meantime we’ve baited the sewers in the area.”