'Plague of rats' forces children to use a bucket instead of a toilet

Rats have gorged on children's milk

A family living in a house "plagued with rats" for almost a decade has been "traumatised", says a mum of two.

The woman - who wished to remain anonymous - lives in a council house in Wrexham with her two children, one of whom is autistic.

She said Wrexham Council let her and her family down by failing to eradicate the problem or find them a suitable new home nearby to live in.

"It is hell and I don't want to come home anymore," the mum said. "Neither of the kids will use the bathroom any more, they go to the toilet in a bucket because they're so scared the rats will come out."

The council said it had sent pest control, offered advice and an offer of alternative housing had been declined.

Warning: This story contains details some may find distressing.

Despite keeping the property clean and tidy, the rats have been invading "on-and-off for nine years," which makes the woman believe there must be a colony nearby.

"We've have them coming out from the kitchen cupboards and out from under the bath," she said.

"I've spoken to the previous tenant here too and she says she had the same problem," she said. "But the council won't have it that there is a problem."

She said every single part of the house, in the Brynteg area, has been affected.

"They've been in the attic, under the floorboards, in the wall cavities, in the electric cupboard, in the food cupboards, under the bath.

"I've had the pest control out I don't know how many times. They've been out almost every week for years."

The woman claimed the rats had chewed through or nested in household items, as well as destroying irreplaceable items from when her children were babies.

"My autistic child is sensitive to sensory things and with the smell and the noise, I can see them in distress."

She said the sound at night was unbearable and the children were having nightmares.

Even when holes are filled up, new ones are made

"Sometimes the council will fill a hole in the cupboard but they will quickly chew another hole through. Then when they drop dead in the walls or under the kitchen cupboards we have to deal with the smell of rotting rats.

"We've had some dead ones in traps and when they took the insulation out of the attic there was a load of dead ones went with that and a load of live ones running round their feet while they did the work.

"It's got to that point where I can't take it anymore."

Wrexham Council asked the family if they would consider moving to Coedpoeth earlier this month. But it is further from their support network and to go to school, particularly for the autistic child who already travels a long distance. With no car, the family said moving there was impossible.

The mum said: "They've had 10 doctors letters, an autism report, letters from the school but we are getting nowhere.

"We've had meetings with the council, we've had Shelter, Citizens Advice involved, we've had 'managed move' meetings and it's all been refused because we don't meet the criteria".

David Bithell, deputy leader of Wrexham council and lead member for housing said: "We are aware of the tenant complaint and have sent pest control and offered advice on what the tenant can do to minimise and reduce the risk of vermin at the house.

"We did offer alternative housing that was declined. Housing offers are based on need, demand and supply. We aim to offer the most suitable properties based on those factors."