A rat infestation has been reported in the Oxfordshire community of Benson, situated close to Wallingford.
The issue stems from residents depositing household food waste into publicly accessible bins throughout the village.
Collections of the previous day’s refuse by waste operatives in the morning hours have resulted in increased sightings of rats in the area.
Benson Parish Council issued guidance to local residents urging them to utilise their designated household food waste collection services rather than disposing of such materials in public waste receptacles.
The council noted that rats had been frequently observed leaving the bins during emptying procedures.
Officials emphasised that the public bins were established to accommodate minor quantities of litter generated while away from home, and were not designed for the disposal of household waste.
The parish council appealed to inhabitants for their assistance in resolving the matter.