GIANT rats are invading British homes by sneaking up sewage pipes and scurrying out through toilets, a pest controller has revealed.

       Andrew Dellbridge, of Ace Pest Control, warned Brits that rats "the size of cats" have become braver post lockdown.

       1

       Rats as big as cats have reportedly been invading British homes Credit: Dorling Kindersley - Getty

       During the pandemic, rodents turned to residential homes after they were forced to find other food sources when restaurants closed down.

       Now Mr Dellbridge said that rats, some as "big as cats" are now trying to gain access to homes where they wouldn't have gone before.

       "They used to work around us but now they’re gaining access they wouldn’t have attempted before," he told Norwich Evening News.

       "I was called out to one job in Norwich and the customer could barely speak, she was in so much shock.

       "She’d been using the bathroom and heard a noise.

       "She looked down and it was in the toilet bowl. And this is happening more and more frequently."

       Most read in THE SUN

       FUELLING FEARS Police marshal drivers at petrol stations after shortage sparks panic buying

       UNITED IN GRIEF Sabina's grieving family & friends gather for vigil after teacher's murder

       Exclusive

       TENE-GRIEF Couple left broke as Tenerife hotel demands ￡1,300 despite them paying Teletext

       Latest

       HEIR OWN WORDS Meghan Markle reads her book at school as Harry sits cross-legged with kids

       DAD'S GRIEF Emotional dad blasts 'vain selfish girl', 14, who lured son, 13, to 'execution'

       Exclusive

       ROOM AND HOARD Four-bed townhouse in London on sale for ￡500,000 but there's a grim catch

       Mr Dellbridge went on to say that he has had to take on extra staff this year to help him wage the war on the vermin.

       "They're letting themselves into people's houses and businesses," he said.

       "Because of the throwaway culture we have the rubbish is just piling up and feeding them.

       “The bins are overflowing and wild verges are also filling with rubbish."

       On Thursday a furious dad said his sobbing kids were too scared to go outside because their garden is plagued with rats "the size of cats".

       Wajid Hussain, 36, said he's at "tipping point" as his family are tormented by the massive rats which swarm the garden at his home in Alumrock, Birmingham.

       He said that his wife Zara has refused to go into the garden and she can't hang the washing up because of the rodents swarming their yard.

       And his autistic daughter, 10, screams and cries at the constant scuttling noise the massive rats make in the garden - which the vermin have now "taken over as their own".

       Despite his pleas to the council, Wajid says that nothing is being done about the plague of rats which are so large that they "look like they've been to the gym."

       Kids too scared to go outside while rats 'the size of CATS' swarm yard - but Birmingham council 'does nothing'

       We pay for your stories!

       Do you have a story for The Sun news desk?

       Email us at exclusive@the-sun.co.uk or call 02077824104. You can WhatsApp us on 07423 720 250. We pay for videos too. Click here to upload yours

       Click here to get The Sun newspaper delivered for FREE for the next six weeks.