ANGRY residents have hit out at Renfrewshire Council over a rat “infestation” on a Johnstone street.

There have been claims that properties in the town’s Broomward Drive are being overrun by the vermin as a result of the council’s waste centre in nearby Miller Street.

Footage seen by The Gazette shows a rat in the back garden of a property and residents say the problem has been ongoing for at least a month.

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Tom Muir, who lives in Broomward Drive, said some neighbours have had to deal with rats in their living rooms.

He added: “People have been having all sorts of issues and some are so frightened they can’t even leave their houses.

“The waste centre is a haven for rats and it’s something we warned the council about in the past.”

Mr Muir said Williamsburgh Housing Association (WHA), which owns the properties, has acted swiftly to try to deal with the rats.

But, under the 1949 Prevention of Damage by Pests Act, Renfrewshire Council is required to eradicate vermin in the public interest, regardless of where they happen to be.

Councillor Andy Doig, whose ward includes Johnstone, called on the local authority to take immediate action.

He said: “Off-the-record comments from council staff associated with the waste centre verify that, when the compactor is turned on, rats jump out of it and that there are rats in and around the skips in the centre as well.

“This is extremely concerning as the weather is now getting colder and my real worry is that the rats will start to enter houses. We could be facing a vermin outbreak.

“There are also a number of business around the waste centre which, not least for their own sake, as well as for the surrounding residents, need to be checked out as well.”

“This has to happen now for health and safety reasons and in the public interest.”

A council spokesperson said the local authority is aware of “an issue with rodents” in the Miller Street area and is actively treating this with an approved rodenticide.

She added: “Treatment will continue in the coming weeks until the issue is brought under control.

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“Should anyone observe rodents, please contact the council on 0300 300 0380 and the pest control operative will visit and inspect the area.”

Owen McMillan, WHA’s maintenance manager, said: “We’ve got a letter going out to the properties affected to give them some advice and we’ll deal with any issues.”