A PLAGUE of rats unleashed by the UK's summer floods and downpours saw pest control company Rentokil Initial experience its busiest month of business for a decade.

The group said its UK pest control division faced a surge in demand last month following the extreme wet weather. Rats have been forced above ground by the floodwater, but are also thought to have been attracted by uncollected rubbish on the streets.

Meanwhile, the slug population is understood to have doubled to 15billion following the wet weather.

Rentokil, which also operates across a range of businesses, including washroom services and parcel delivery, said demand for pest control globally was increasing.

The group, which operates in 40 countries, brought in £8.8m in new business to its worldwide pest control division in the three months to the end of June.

But Rentokil posted a 27 per cent fall in profits since the start of the year despite the heavy workload at its pest control arm.

The group reported pre-tax profits of £65.3m for the six months to June 30, against £89.4m last year.