People with jobs in environmental health were called in to help a family's problem with rats invading their property.
Keith Bayles and partner Nicola first encountered the infestation in August last year, when they spotted the rodents in their kitchen, reports the Shields Gazette.
Speaking with the newspaper, 25-year-old Mr Bayles said: "We contacted environmental health who came and put traps and poison down. They caught six rats in the traps."
He added that more dead rodents are still inside the wall cavity causing a "terrible" smell.
The restaurant worker stated: "It's making living here so hard for us."
Since they asked South Tyneside Homes to re-house Mr Bayles, along with Nicola and their 20-month-old son Riley, the couple have been moved up to a higher priority band.
Until then, social housing group Riverside confirmed it is working closely with those in environmental health jobs at South Tyneside Council to help resolve the problem.
Pest control group Rentokil advised people who think they could have a rodent infestation to take control of the problem, highlighting the health risks the creatures pose to humans by carrying diseases such as Salmonella, E.coli and Tuberculosis.
Posted by Lucy Hallows
