CUSTOMERS at fast-food take-aways have been partly blamed for a massive increase in the rat population in the New Forest.

The number of rats is on the increase as food is being dumped in nearby gutters, bushes and verges, according to the district head of environment health, Annie Righton, at a meeting in Lyndhurst.

Mrs Righton said it had become a problem and commented: "The availability of take-away food for rats is a factor. We have a major problem with take-away restaurants where there is a food source.

"You find chips in gutters and areas of bushes where food is discarded."

Another rat-encouraging factor, she said, was the issue of people feeding pigeons in town centres. "In Ringwood High Street, for instance, a lot of bread is thrown down by people feeding the pigeons. The result is that you've got more pigeons there and an increase in the number of rats."

Councillor Steve Shepherd told the district environment review panel of a number of complaints from people in his Totton ward and added: "There does seem to be an increase in sightings of rats."

Another area reported to have a rat problem was Pennington, with Councillor Paul Hickman pointing out that it was particularly bad in areas where people left their dustbins.

But Councillor Brenda Smith suggested that residents themselves could help ease the problems by making less food available for the hungry rodents.

With a warmer climate and a cutting down on the amount of sewer-baiting by water companies also allowing rats to increase in numbers, Councillor Shepherd said: "Given the life cycle of rats, there can be a very serious increase in infestation in a very short space of time."

The district now charges for removing rats from people's property and Mrs Righton said the majority of other local authorities also made a charge.

Numerous parishes have also reported problems and a meeting of Ashurst and Colbury Parish Council heard that nine residents of the same road - New Road - had called in the district's rodent control officer.