A MOTHER is appealing for help to solve a rat infestation that has plagued her house for seven months. Donna Slade, 44, said she has reached the end of her tether after battling against the vermin at her home in Ambury Road, Huntingdon. Ms Slade says her

A MOTHER is appealing for help to solve a rat infestation that has plagued her house for seven months.

Donna Slade, 44, said she has reached the end of her tether after battling against the vermin at her home in Ambury Road, Huntingdon.

Ms Slade says her 11-year-old son takes a cricket bat to bed with him for fear of the rats reaching him in the night.

And now Ms Slade is appealing to Hunts Post readers for help in getting rid of the pests, which she says are damaging her health.

"I am at my wits end," Ms Slade said. "I am petrified one is going to jump out of a cupboard. I have been taking sleeping pills and have suffered from ulcers because I am so worried.

"I have to get to the bottom of it - I have spoken to the council, the housing association and anyone else I can think of but nothing has worked."

Ms Slade said she believes the rat problem may be linked to an empty property next door.

However, the rats could be emanating from the disused Brookside site, where Ms Slade claims the sewage system has not been properly covered.

The site is due for redevelopment and last week, social landlord Luminus entered a planning application to turn Brookside into flats.

The house where she has lived for 18 years is a Luminus home, but neither the social landlord nor Huntingdonshire District Council has been able to stop the problem.

Initially believed to be a squirrel infestation, Luminus laid poison for the animals but the discovery of a rats' nest in February led to HDC's involvement.

Strong poison has been laid for the rats, but they continue to run through the attic, affecting Ms Slade and her neighbours in Ambury Road.

"They are not small animals," she said. "I am absolutely shattered because I cannot go to bed until they have settled for the evening.

"It is a ridiculous situation, I am so stressed out and I don't know what to do."

A spokesman for the Luminus Group said: "We have dealt with these concerns in the recent past, including asking for the council's pest control officer to attend. We are in close contact with our tenant and are arranging for the matter to be investigated further."

INFORMATION: Can you help Donna? Contact The Hunts Post newsdesk on 01480 411481.