A mother-of-three says rats have been getting into her council flat and have been running over her children's beds and had even found one of the rodents under her settee.

Amy Woodcock was at her wit's end with the problem after contacting her landlord, Medway Council, failed to solve the problem.

The 29-year-old, who lives with her daughter and two sons, in Keswick Court, Hazlemere Drive, Gillingham, says the problem started last June.

She complained to the authority at the time as she found rats were getting inside her home from the communal area of the building.

Ms Woodcock says she regularly finds rat droppings in her home, even on beds, and can hear scratching sounds around furniture.

She also claims she has seen a rat under her one-year-old daughter Gracie's cot and the rodents get into her sons' bedroom.

Pest control was carried out last summer and Ms Woodcock was given some traps, but she says it has not made the situation any better.

She said: "The contractor told me there was plate missing from a sewer and that's how they were getting in.

"My sons Freddie, two and Harry, seven, share a room and Harry has told me a rat ran over his bed.

"I have also found rat poo in their beds, they are petrified of the rats and so am I.

"When the problem persisted, the council said I would have to pay £80 to get rid of the rats and I just can't afford that.

"I wouldn't mind if the problem was being caused by me, but it isn't the rats are getting in from the communal area."

However, after our sister paper the Medway Messenger contacted Medway Council a manager went out to resolve the problem.

Ms Woodcock said: "I can't thank the paper enough, things are happing now and the council are trying to sort it, but I refused the offer of temporary accommodation as my children need their routine.

"Why why should they go thought the upheaval of moving and I'd probably be worse off than I am now anyway.

"My son Harry told me a rat run over his bed" - Amy Woodcock

"I really think if I'd not contacted the paper, I would still be waiting for the council to sort it out."

Marc Blowers, Medway Council’s head of housing, said: “We arranged for a contractor to carry out a survey of the drains in May 2017, after the resident reported they thought they saw a rat.

"The contractor found no evidence of rats or any issues with the drains.

“No further reports were received until last month. We arranged for our contractor to visit the property the same day and they closed a small gap next to the toilet.

“We will be visiting the tenant next week and we will work with her to resolve the problem she is reporting.

"The resident has been offered temporary accommodation whilst we investigate."