THE stench of a dead rat has forced an elderly couple to seek refuge in the homes of relatives.

Tom and Ann Tomlinson said the rat got into their home in Ashfield, Newton Aycliffe, through a hole in the wall, which they claim the council should have bricked up years ago.

The hole is all that remains of an old Redifusion television box, thousands of which were fitted to homes in the town.

Mr Tomlinson, 65, said he reported an "awful smell" to Sedgefield Borough Council, which bricked the hole up.

He said: "I wouldn't like this to happen to anyone else in Aycliffe, and I think the council should go around and make sure these things are bricked up."

Council workers were unable to find the rat and said there was little to be done, other than wait for it to decompose.

The smell got so bad that the couple would sleep at their daughters' homes.

Mr Tomlinson said: "We've both been ill with this. We daren't get up during the night because we're frightened there might be a rat moving across the floor."

Aycliffe councillor Tony Moore said: "I'm appalled this has happened. The council must give this a priority, irrespective of the cost, to stop any vermin of any description."

A spokesman for the council said: "If anyone has problems with their brickwork they should contact the council's housing department and they will investigate."