ROMSEY is plagued with rats and something has to be done before there are serious health problems.

Those are the words of one Test Valley councillor who has major concerns about the rodents which pest control officers are battling to wipe out in several areas.

The latest area where rats have become a nuisance is Romsey’s award-winning War Memorial Park.

Borough officials have now asked the public not to “overfeed” the ducks – one of the park’s main attractions.

It comes after pest control officers inspected the park and found large amounts of bread and other food scattered about the open space, which holds the coveted Green Flag status.

Borough councillor Dorothy Baverstock, who is also chairman of the Friends of the Park, said: “Rats have been a problem in the park for a long time. People do need to be careful about excessive feeding of the ducks because it attracts vermin.”

However, she said the rodents were all over Romsey and TVBC should rethink its policy of charging for pest control.

Mrs Baverstock, who represents Cupernham ward, wants the council to reinstate free pest control which was axed in 2008. “We’ve seen an increase in rats since the council started charging residents for pest control services,” she said. “Something needs to be done because there is a massive problem with them. They carry horrible diseases and definitely pose a health risk.”

Pest control officers are now trying to bring rat numbers down in the park after receiving complaints from the public.

Poisonous bait has been put down.

Borough cabinet housing and environmental health spokesperson, Sandra Hawke, said: “We are working hard to investigate and respond to the situation. We all love feeding the ducks and certainly wouldn’t want people to stop doing this. All we ask is that any spare bread is taken home once the ducks have had their fill.”

Council pest control teams are still trying to reduce rat numbers at Valley Park.

Borough officials acknowledged the community had a problem in July after Valley Park Parish Council chairman, Alan Dowden, put pressure on the authority to take urgent action.

Mr Dowden said he’d received more than 100 complaints from residents about rats.