CREEPY crawlies, rodents and other pest problems will be no match for two North- East businessmen who were made redundant earlier this year.

Mike Stabler, 40, and Dave Dodd, 33, worked side-by-side for 15 years at Darlington’s DuPont Powder Coatings before the company announced job losses in January.

The fathers, from Shildon and High Grange, in County Durham, respectively, decided to set up Pied Piper Pest Solutions after being offered free training as part of their redundancy.

The pest control firm will focus on problems such as bees, wasps, rabbits, rats and moles.

Mr Stabler said: “We want to use traditional methods.”

“Take mole control, for instance,”

said Mr Dodd. Some places might want to gas them and not get their hands dirty.

“We will use methods like trapping, which are more environmentally friendly.”

The pair were given a £3,000 Business Link grant for equipment and travelled Devon for training.

They agree redundancy has been a positive thing and look forward to expanding. Mr Stabler said: “I wish we had done this ten years ago.”

Contact the firm on 07709- 061790 or 07709-087868, or via the website, piedpiperpest solutions.co.uk