Panic in ‘warfare zone’ UK metropolis as horde of rats escape from large sinkhole with locals terrified

Grossed out residents have complained to the council that hordes of vermin are destroying their cars.

Locals in Manvers Court in Sneinton, Nottingham say rats have been escaping from a sewer sinkhole that has remained unrepaired for around six months, Nottinghamshire Live reported. Estimates from locals say 22 vehicles have been damaged by rats chewing through the wires.

The pit has been reported to the council numerous times, but currently remains patched over with a yellow plastic lid. Nottingham City Council has since said a contractor will be on site early next week to sort the issue, reported to them as a “cracked and uneven path”.

“My son lost his van,” Denise Drury, a resident in the block for 42 years, said. “He took it for an MOT, and they lifted the bonnet up and they asked him if he’d been anywhere where there is a lot of rats. They found rat droppings in the bonnet.

“Then they found a cable had been chewed through. They repaired it but he was out driving one day, back down here from up north, and his car started making a funny noise and then smoking. He had to get it towed and it was ruined.”

Residents believe the sinkhole was caused by rats in the first place. The theory is that they burrowed into soft ground under the brick and paving slabs at the entrance to the block.

The council only provided two orange warning barriers to warn people it was there at first. The yellow board currently in place to cover the hole can be easily moved or dislodged.

“We’ve reported and reported and reported,” Denise said. “The caretakers have reported it too. We think they’re breeding down there. Nobody bothers with us.”

One owner showed a video of an electrocuted dead rat in his car engine, while BMW owner Mohammed said he had taken to spraying his home with self-made anti-rat solution. He used a mix of cayenne pepper, vinegar, garlic, chilli flakes, rosemary, mint to keep them away and said he has already lost a Renault due to the problem.

He said: “I wanted that car for my daughter. It’s really sad. But the rats ate every single red wire. They thought it was meat. The cost to repair it and get it back on the road was not worth it. But I can’t lose my BMW. I’m not rich. We’re not rich. We’re poor. Something has to be done.”

Resident Lucio Valentino added: “There are kids that play out here too. That’s an added concern.”

A Nottingham City Council spokesperson said: “The contractor should be on site early next week to fix the issue, which was reported to us as a cracked and uneven path.

“We have already carried out drainage surveys on the site and fixed anything that needed doing. We will also be doing another survey of all of the drains starting next week to look for any more deterioration.

“At the moment, we don’t believe the issue with this manhole is causing more pest activity in the area. However, pest control visited in October and baited the area and we will continue to carry out investigations when issues like these are flagged to us.”

For the latest breaking news and stories from across the globe from the Daily Star, sign up for our newsletters.