Brits are finding unwelcome surprises in their loos, with huge rats that can tread water for days sneaking up through toilets to invade homes.
Experts are warning people to rat-proof their homes to ward off the rodents, some of which are said to be "as big as cats".
Pest control expert Ian Helands told The Daily Star : "I have had more call-outs than ever from homeowners who have heard a noise, looked down into their toilet only to find a giant rat.
"No-one is safe. Rats are excellent swimmers with bendy bones and can squeeze into the smallest of spaces.
"They can hold their breath for three minutes and tread water for three days, and they are coming up waste pipes.
"They're cunning and getting bolder and bolder. Basically, if they want to get into your home, they will."
The explosion in UK rat numbers is causing chaos.
They are said to number 150 million – the most ever.
Mr Helands continued: "This has increased by 25% each year over the Covid pandemic.
"People are scared and they should be. There are more rats than ever and they are taking over. I have seen some the size of cats."
He said that the increase in numbers of people working from home means rats don't have as much food to eat in city centres – so they are coming into homes instead.
SOURCE: https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/rats-the-size-cats-sneaking-26287982