A COUNCILLOR has voiced concern over a local authority's decision to end its pest control service for householders.

Coun Sylvia Szintai, Labour's shadow cabinet member for environmental improvement, believes public health may be put at risk because of the move by Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council.

She said: "Increasing numbers of residents are telling us they are having difficulty finding private firms willing to come out quickly to deal with pests," she said.

"They are also telling us charges quoted are now more than the previous council inclusive charge of £40 per infestation.

"If wasps nests are not removed, or rodents, or other vermin dealt with, public health is being put at risk."

A council spokesperson said the service had not been stopped.

He said: "All we have done is to no longer offer pest control services to householders, not withdraw the service altogether.

"Most problems arise on public open space and those will be dealt with as they always have been, quickly and efficiently by properly trained and qualified staff.

"If we had continued with the service we would have had to increase our charges by 75 per cent to cover unavoidable increased costs and therefore we would have lost our competitive advantage over the private sector.