Residents of an Enniskillen housing estate have said they are “at their wits end” due to an ongoing rat infestation in the area.

Alan Titmarsh, from Scaffog Park, said he regularly sights large brown rats in his garden, which, due to their size, look like “rats on steroids”.

Meanwhile, another resident has said she had to dispose of a slide after it was contaminated by vermin, and that the situation has left her “afraid to use [my] own garden”.

Residents have claimed that the rodent problem is the result of a derelict building near the housing estate, and Fermanagh and Omagh District Council has confirmed that it is conducting an investigation.

According to the council, complaints in relation to the rodents have been received between 2020 and 2023.

Mr. Titmarsh agreed that problems with rodents began during lockdown, and have persisted since.

“They [the rats] are huge,” he said. “We have seen multiple rats in the garden at times. They are like rats on steroids. Some are as big as cats!

“The rats are becoming increasingly brazen. One evening we were sitting in our back garden, and one walked past us, only a few metres away.

“It makes you not want to go into your own back garden, which isn’t ideal coming into the summer months. It’s disgusting, and it’s a health hazard.”

Mr. Titmarsh feels that the council s”hould be doing more to address the issue, and other residents agree”.

“It is unacceptable that, as ratepayers, we are having to deal with this,” he continued.

“We feel the council should be doing more to tackle this issue, and as a result, I called into the Townhall in person to demand action.

“We pay our rates and we feel we should be able to live in a vermin-free area. The issue has been ongoing for a number of years. The issue needs to be tackled once and for all.”

Meanwhile, another resident, who wished to remain anonymous, said it feels like the rat problems “are never going to end”.

“We shouldn’t have to live like this, it’s not fair,” she said. “The council’s attitude is, ‘just keep putting down rat poison’; but more needs to be done.

“My garden used to be lovely, with beautiful flowers growing around time of year. Now, because of the rats, I don’t want to go outside.”

The resident continued: “The council have been in and out, but no real action has been taken. Poison has been put down, but they [the rats] keep coming back.

“At one point I had three rats in the garden, and not even my two dogs could deter them.

“I have had to discard a slide because it was contaminated by the rats. Those things cost money. The situation isn’t fair on anyone.”

Speaking on the rodent issues at Scaffog Park, a spokesperson from Fermanagh and Omagh District Council said that following complaints in recent years, the council “took formal action and provided advice and guidance to the landowner to address the matters”.

The spokesperson added: “Further complaints have been received recently, and the council is currently conducting an investigation.

“As this is a live investigation, the council is unable to provide any further comment at this time.”

The council was also asked if a dedicated pest control service was provided.

In response, a council spokesperson said that while it does not operate a pest control service, it offers advice and information, and “investigates” complaints regarding public health nuisances arising from pest issues, taking “appropriate enforcement action where necessary”.

The council added that if rodents were detected on council-owned premises, such as the Lakeland Forum, it would “consider options to deal with the issue, including the employment of a qualified pest control company to resolve the matter”.