RATS are running around the garden of a young York single mum, and she is likely to have to pay the council to have them removed.

Fuming Gemma Faulkner, from Meam Close, in Osbaldwick, first began having problems with rats after one of the rodents found its way into her rubbish bin last November, as reported at the time in the Evening Press.

The young mum blamed the council's controversial new rubbish collection system for the infestation, after she found the rodent inside her grey bin while removing waste to make more room.

Council bosses initially said they would charge £30 to remove the vermin, but later apologised and took it away for free.

But Gemma said her garden was now being plagued by a family of rats, which were such a problem she was scared to let her three-year-old daughter, Georgina, outside to play.

Gemma said: "She might try to pick one up. It could bite her."

Council bosses confirmed that anyone who is not on income support would have to pay £30 to have the animals removed.

Gemma said she first spotted one of the rats in her garden earlier this month. She said she thought the animals could either have been encouraged into her property by the first one that entered her bin - or they could have spread from nearby building works.

She said: "I was looking out on my garden, and there was a rat sat next to my shed. I thought 'not again.'

"I just thought it would go away. It's disgusting."

Gemma said several rats had now been spotted in her own and neighbouring properties, and she thought they were living underneath her patio.

"They are living in the garden," she said.

"Why should we pay council tax, and have to pay for this?

"Because I work, and I pay full rent and full council tax, I have to pay."

A council spokeswoman said no record had been found of Gemma's inquiry.

She said: "However, a standard fee of £30 is charged for the removal of rats from private properties.

"Residents receiving income support are not charged for the service.

"Budget proposals for the coming year recommend that the vermin disposal fee be reduced to £10, though a decision has yet to be taken on this."

Updated: 10:42 Thursday, January 26, 2006