By Sarah Robinson

Last updated at 12:00, Thursday, 04 October 2012

A family has been forced to flee their home because of an infestation of rats after holes were drilled in the walls of the house by workmen.

Carly Bestford, her partner Gary and children Evie, three, and Lily, four months old, moved out of their home in Valley View Road in Greenbank, Whitehaven after hearing rats in the wall cavities.

The problems began when landlords Home Group started to install insulation in the property drilling holes in the internal and external walls.

A spokesman for Home Group said it was not clear how the rats entered the property. An investigation was underway.

She said: “I went downstairs one night to make the baby’s bottle and I heard the rats squealing and running around. I was absolutely terrified.”

Miss Bestford said the rats had been going through holes in the kitchen cupboards and in the bathroom. They had eaten a sponge in the bathroom.

She said: “I’m concerned because of the diseases that rats carry. It’s not safe for my children to live there. I won’t take them back to the house until its sorted.”

The family are staying with relatives.

The Home Group spokesman said: “Home Group apologises for any inconvenience caused by work on the customer’s property, and we understand their concern regarding rats in their home.

“The holes were made during essential cavity wall insulation work, and Home Group will ensure that these are repaired as soon as possible by the contractors on site. One of our property contract supervisors will make certain this work has been completed to a satisfactory level before the work is signed off.

“It isn’t clear how the rats have entered the property, but we have commissioned a pest management service to remove them and investigate the cause of the problem, after which we will decide whether any further action needs to be taken.”

First published at 11:26, Thursday, 04 October 2012
Published by http://www.newsandstar.co.uk