A mass cull of seafront rats is under way in one Kent town.

Folkestone and Hythe District Council wants to wipe out the rodents around The Leas.

The pests have also been found in the Lower Leas Coastal Park, Madeira Walk and the Road of Remembrance.

Now, professional pest controllers, from Ashford, are being brought in to deal with the problem.

Work is due to start on Monday when bait boxes will be placed at various points along The Leas, and surrounding areas, including the coastal park and the aforementioned roads.

Signs will be put up advising walkers and visitors that the work is under way.

But the council is now issuing a warning to dog walkers to keep their pets on a lead.

A spokesman for the authority said: "Although dogs cannot get into bait boxes and cannot get secondary poison by eating dead rats, pet owners should make sure their dogs are on leads in accordance with the Public Space Protection Order in operation on The Leas."

This is not the first time the authority has had to cull rats from the area.

The spokesman added: "We last did it in January 2018 and it has to be done from time to time.

"We monitor the numbers and sightings and don’t rely on complaints before we take action."

Cllr Stuart Peall, the council's cabinet member for enforcement, regulatory services, waste and building control, added: "We have to carry out this work to ensure that the number of rats in the area does not become a problem.

"This is the best time of year to do it as there is less discarded food around than in the summer so the rats are attracted to the bait boxes."

In 2017, complaints were made over rats running riot in Harvey Street and St Michael Street in Folkestone following littering and fly-tipping in the area.

Another rat was spotted in the town in 2015 - this time in the form of street art on the wall of an amusement arcade in Payers Park.

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