"It was surely king of the rats."

These are the words of a Romsey man who was attacked by a 'fearless' rodent while walking on crutches.

Richard Baker, 45, of Northlands Road, was walking on Botley Road when he encountered it.

Mr Baker said he had injured his foot while playing in a veterans' match for Michelmersh and Timsbury. 

He said: “I often head out in the afternoon on my crutches for some exercise and this afternoon decided to take a hobble into Romsey town on my crutches for a coffee.

“I was walking down Botley Road adjacent to Romsey Cemetery when I spotted something out of the corner of my eye. I stopped, startled, looked ahead and standing in front of me, to my absolute surprise on the pavement was an enormous rat.

“I’ve seen a few rats before but this one stood out to me because of its sheer stature.

“It was surely king of the rats and he was there bold as brass staring me down. I was staring at the rat and we stood there gazing at one another for what seemed like an age I wondered who would flinch first.

"Then to my amazement it leapt towards me at speed. 

Daily Echo: Richard Baker

“With my orthopaedic boot I’m not as agile as I should be but I lifted myself up on my crutches just in time. The rat was completely fearless and went under my legs diving at full throttle, launching his head at my crutch. 

“My whole body shook with the force that the rodent had inflicted upon me but I managed to maintain balance and steadfast nerve.

“With a flick of a tail the rat was running through the fence, into the park and into a burrow at the foot of a tree. A warning shot this time perhaps, 'get off my land’ came cries from the burrow.

“Are we in the midst of a new breed of fearless rodents here in Romsey? Is it the start of something more sinister and how did this particular rat become so large?”

The British Pest Control Association (BPCA) has warned people about rats and mice being more common throughout the winter months. 

Natalie Bungay, technical manager at BPCA, said: “Species such as voles and shrews are fairly common, living in grasslands, woodland and towns and gardens, however, they are rarely spotted – and when they are seen in gardens or built-up areas, they can be mistaken for pests. 

“Correct identification of a species is vital. Rats and mice are considered pests within human environments because they can spread disease to people and cause damage to property through their gnawing activities. 

“Field voles are fairly common and won’t pose a risk if you find them in your garden, but water voles and all species of shrew are protected under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981.”