A rat inside the abandoned pet shop. (Newsquest via SWNS)
By Phoebe Ozanne
Residents in a quaint market town have been "swarmed" by rampaging rats living in an abandoned pet shop "rodent hotel."
Locals have lived with the infestation for months and the rodents have been spotted drinking out of puddles and chewing through vital car parts at nearby dealerships.
The "rat hotel" is the former Stalham Angling and Pet Centre in Stalham, Norfolk, England which closed following a fire last May.
However, the property is still full of animal feed and bedding, which has attracted a vast number of the vermin.
The dirty rodents have become a regular sight for passers-by and can often be seen licking at the windows of the store and scurrying around the abandoned stock inside.
George Williams, who lives in the town, said people walking down the High Street give the shop a wide berth to avoid the rogue rodents.
He said: "The rats are regularly seen at the windows. It is shocking and people cross the street rather than face the sight of rodents licking the windows.
A can be seen in the pet shop throw a window. (Veronica Neale via SWNS)
"The pet shop closed very suddenly after a fire and it was left fully stocked with food and bedding.
"It's become the perfect rat hotel."
Residents claim the rats have started to spread out of the property and are causing concern for surrounding homes and businesses.
The town of Stalham has a population of 3,149 and lies within the Norfolk Broads — Britain's most protected wetland and beauty spot.
Gary Arthur and Ellis Speirs run two separate car repair businesses behind the store and say swarms of rats have damaged vehicles.
Speirs, from Ellis Autos Stalham, said: "They are having a disco in there and out here it is rife as well. It is like the floor is moving.
"It is a really bad infestation and we are bearing the brunt of it as they are starting to damage the vehicles."
Arthur, who runs GA Restoration, said he had a rat chew through the cables of a customer's car after the vehicle was left in the yard overnight.
He explained: "It got in the hood and chewed the wiring.
"It is becoming a hazard, not only to us in the yard, but the public on the street as well."
Inside the abandoned pet shop. (Newsquest via SWNS)
Locals started reporting the infestation 11 weeks ago to North Norfolk District Council, urging officers to act.
Kevin Bayes, the mayor of Stalham and a district councillor, said he had reported the problem as soon as he knew about it to the Environmental Protection team.
The council issued a notice to the owner of the building on Feb. 23, which told him to sort out the issue within four weeks.
A reminder was sent on March 24, asking for evidence of action taken by March 27.
However, Bayes said the time has now lapsed and the council will now be looking into legally gaining entry into the building to sort the problem.
He said: "It is not good for the town.
"It is disappointing that we have got some owners that don't take care of the properties in the town."
It is understood the shop has been closed since a blaze broke out in the early hours of May 3 last year.
North Norfolk District Council has been contacted for comment.
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