HOMEOWNERS in York and North Yorkshire are being urged to guard against a fresh invasion of rats this autumn.

Pest experts fear numbers could soar in the next few months boosted by a combination of cooler temperatures and increasingly wet weather.

A national survey carried out by the British Pest Control Association (BPCA) revealed the areas which attracted the most call outs for rats per head in the UK last year.

And the trade body is warning sightings could rise once more as the onset of colder conditions prompts the rodents to abandon their summer habitats and seek food and shelter indoors.

Dee Ward-Thompson, BPCA technical manager, said: “Rain washes rats out of sewers and other nesting places and, inevitably, they go looking for shelter in higher ground. They’ll try to find some sort of dwelling and that could be lofts, garages or sheds.”

To prevent an infestation than to get rid of one and offers some simple precautions which can be taken to reduce the risk.

• Inspect properties thoroughly and seal up any external gaps, holes or crevices that could provide rats with a way in.

• Remove potential nesting sites by keeping yards and gardens clean and tidy, cutting back overgrown areas and clearing any piles of wood or debris.

• Keep bins well maintained with their lids closed, dispose of rubbish carefully and don’t leave leftover food lying around. Compost heaps should be covered.

• Areas around bird feeders should be kept clean and pet food bowls should not be left out overnight.