A FAMILY of four have moved into a caravan because their home has become infested with rats.

Linda Bonarius, 37, and partner Joe Slater, 56, fled their home, in Sunnydale, Shildon, last Friday night after a babysitter looking after their two sons saw three rats running round the living room.

They are not the only residents on the estate who are having problems with the vermin and have called on landlords Home Housing to take action.

Miss Bonaris said: "I have called Home Housing and they say it is the responsibility of environmental health at Sedgefield Borough Council to get rid of the rats.

"Sedgefield borough came out straight away and they have put poison in the house but that will not solve the problem.

"The rats are getting in because we need repairs doing to the house. The poison might get rid of what's in there but who's to say it will not happen again.''

She said the situation is distressing son Liam who is autistic and needs to have a daily routine.

Sedgefield Borough Council has confirmed that there are problems with rats in three separate sections of the estate, which is owned by Home Housing.

Environmental health service manager Eric Beevers said that the three sections were unrelated and treatments were on-going.

Peter Stephens, of Home Housing, said that the company was working closely with the council's environmental health department to clear up the problem as soon as possible.

He said: "We will do everything we possibly can to stop the rats from getting in.

"We have been asked to let the environmental health department carry out their work first before repairs are carried out. As soon as we get the all-clear we will act immediately.''

Mr Stephens said that a crack in a drain near two of the houses had been blamed for one outbreak and that Home Housing repaired the crack straight away.