Giant, cat-sized rats have infested the popular Welsh seaside resort of Tenby, causing widespread disruption and damaging the cliffs near Castle Beach. The enormous rodents, which have multiplied over the years, have been spotted across the area, prompting fear among residents and concern from local business owners.
Local boatman Roger Miles described the situation to the BBC, saying, 'Early evenings, dusk, early morning, rats all over the place, really. There's a certain area where you see parts of the cliff have been eroded.' He urged the council to act quickly to resolve the issue. Another resident, Derek Brown, highlighted the structural damage the rats have caused to the cliffs.
Michael Lindsey, owner of the Dennis Cafe, which has been operating for over 30 years, said he has never seen the rodent problem this bad. 'We've put bait down now. We probably see a rat at least once a week running around on the roads,' he added.
Poet Clive Dobbins was startled to discover a large rat in his living room. 'Suddenly, this thing dashed and hit my leg. Quite a few people have told me, especially on this mountain here, they've seen clusters of them,' he said.
Pembrokeshire Council has advised residents not to feed birds or drop food, and has deployed specially trained staff to investigate the cliff where the rats are nesting. A council spokesperson said, 'We are using specialist staff to address the access to the cliff face: this may also allow us regular access for the future as well.'
