CARMARTHENSHIRE may become overrun with rats unless residents start terminating the rodents themselves.

The prediction follows a move by the local authority to axe pest control in the county — a move that has alarmed some residents — in a bid to save money.

Council chiefs say they will continue to investigate rodent problems but will not undertake the actual treatment.

One Llanelli resident, who asked not to be named, said: "Failure to control rodents will lead to an increase in disease and deaths.

"This is a fact.

"Rodents cause billions of pounds of damage to foodstuffs, drainage systems and properties.

"While not being any respecter of area or wealth, the difficulty in treating rodents with no pest control service in existence will fall disproportionately on the poor."

The move to axe pest control is estimated to save the county council some £22,000 in 2011/12 and £49,000 in 2012/13.

The resident added: "Only those who have experienced a rodent infestation in their home can appreciate the fear and worry caused.

"To do away with the existing pest control service is false economy, but worse it is an denial of one of the council's fundamental responsibilities and that is to protect public health."

Mum-of-two Ann Williams, of Chapman Street, had a problem rat under the floorboards of her house for three months. Her initial port of call was to contact the local authority for help.

It took several months to catch, but without the aid of the county council pest control department, she said she didn't know how she would have overcome the problem herself.

She said: "It's appalling that the council is considering cutting this service.

"As a tax payer, we should not be faced with the prospect of having to pay privately if someone is ever unfortunate enough to have a rat in their home.

"As a single parent, the added cost of having to hire a private firm to deal combat the problem would add much undue stress to an already worrying situation – especially, as in my case it took three months to catch.

"That could be very costly indeed. The pest control department is an essential service and needs to stay."

Carmarthenshire Council's public health services manager David Evans said: "The proposals would not affect our statutory duties.

"We would continue to carry out our responsibilities to investigate rodent problems, and are looking at other ways to deliver this duty.

"It means we will not be undertaking the actual treatment, and this will leave individual landowners to keep their land free from rats and mice.

"The actual treatment of pests is not a statutory function and would in future be left to the private sector.

"The onus would be on landowners to keep their land free of rats and mice."

shaun.greaney@swwmedia.co.uk