They say you’re never less than five metres from a rat, and that looks like being the case in Maidstone after council pest busters were called to more than 1,200 rat-infested premises in five years.

The figures – released to the Kent Messenger following a request under the Freedom of Information Act – show that 1,706 domestic and private buildings were treated for rats and mice between April 2003 and the end of 2007.

In the same period 19 places were treated for bedbugs and four property owners had to call in pest control following cockroach infestation.

Maidstone council does not see the numbers as a problem, saying rodents and other pests are not out of control.

The figures go back to spring 2003. In that year 248 premises in the borough were treated for rats and 95 for mice.

The following year the figures rose slightly to 257 reports of rat infestation and 129 for mice.

In 2005 they rose again for rats, with 279 reports, but only 82 for mice.

The numbers took a nosedive the year after with 235 rat reports and in 2007 they rose again, with 264 premises being treated.

In total there have been 1,283 reports of rats and 423 for mice since April 2003. The figures do not distinguish between public premises, like restaurants and hospitals, and people’s homes.

The area around Maidstone High Street is the worst for all types of rodent infestation and much of the council’s anti-vermin work is centred there.

In June 2003 £2,825 was spent on pigeon protection at Maidstone Museum, St Faith’s Street, and £480 used to install anti-perch equipment at the Archbishop’s Palace in Mill Street.

Anti-vermin wire and netting across the borough and pigeon netting at the council’s former offices in London Road cost a further £2,400 in 2004 and £2,200 was spent on pigeon wire at Maidstone Town Hall in March of this year.

Steve Goulette, assistant director of regulatory and environmental services, said: “From looking at the figures it doesn’t look like there has been a significant difference from year to year.

“The numbers remain fairly constant, which would indicate that there isn’t a problem.”

Earlier this year the Kent Messenger reported on the growing number of rats in Mote Park.

A council pest control officer is to visit All Saints' Church yard, off Mill Street, Maidstone, after concerns were raised about increasing numbers of rats.

People using the footpath through the yard had spotted several baby rats in the past couple of weeks.The council is responsible for ground maintenance there.