A prison’s rodent problem is being tackled by six feral cats recruited to wipe out an infestation of rioting rats.

Maidstone prison’s recent building work saw an increase of rats making their way into the town centre building and leaving droppings in their wake.

A warden contacted Bredhurst’s branch of Cats Protection in February to implement a plan to unleash half a dozen hunters to wipe out the rats.

Stacey Faram, deputy manager, dropped off the six moggies on Thursday and was shown the purpose-built feline headquarters built by the inmates.

She said: “The deputy head warden came to us and said they had a rat situation after a new build where they were drilling into the garden.

“The rats came to the surface and being unclean animals they were pooing and peeing everywhere and they were damaging the property.

“We have never undergone a programme like this before. At first I felt weird about it and shutting cats in a prison.”

Stacey’s fears were alleviated when she was given the measurements of the site and shown the huge space that Belle, Buddy, Summer, Spring, Winter and Autumn will be given to roam as they chase the problem rats.

Along with colleagues Dave Paulding and Andrew King, she handed the new recruits over to prison staff and gave inmates valuable advice on caring for cats.

She said: “They are classed as feral cats because they have grown up without human interaction. All they associate us with is food.

“Feral cats are more likely to be released onto farms and stables where there are roads and machinery. A prison is safer because it is a walled environment.

“All of the inmates were very excited and all of them have been involved with the project.”