Xmas market reaches Peak
Pest controller (and his dog) catch ‘biggest rodent ever seen in Britain’
A RAT-catcher has snared a whopping 21in rodent, believed to be the largest ever caught in the UK.
Pest control expert Terry Walker and his dog, Max, nabbed the oversized creature when it darted out from a pile of rubbish behind some shops.
It is thought to be the biggest rat ever trapped in Britain, meaning Mr Walker has regained the record he lost last year.
He had nabbed a 19in rat in 2017, but another exterminator beat it by one inch last December.
Mr Walker, 53, made the catch while clearing a pile of rubbish from behind a commercial premises in Bournemouth, Dorset.
The rodent leapt out, straight into the jaws of rescue dog Max, a Manchester terrierpinscher cross.
Mr Walker said: “Looking at it, I could tell it was one of the biggest I’d seen.
“I decided to get the tape measure out and it was 21 inches, the biggest I’ve ever caught. The weight of it was absolutely unbelievable – it was so heavy. “The average rat weighs about 350g – I think this was easily 650g.” Mr Walker – manager of TP Pest Control Services in Poole, Dorset – says rats have got much larger in recent years, as we are producing more waste. He said: “A few years ago, the average length was maybe 14in, but they are definitely getting bigger. “I caught a 19in one last year and another guy caught one that was 20in, and this is 21in. To my knowledge, those are the three biggest people have actually shown with a tape measure.
“I think it’s because we are creating more waste. Our society is getting more obese and the type of waste we are throwing away is fattier. “That’s what the rats are feeding on, so they are getting bigger, too. I don’t think it helps that a lot of councils have changed to fortnightly bin collections.” HUGE FIND Terry Walker
The 21-inch-long rat was caught by Max, right CHATSWORTH estate in the Peak District is home to Britain’s best Christmas market, a poll has found.
The venue in Derbyshire topped the list, followed by St Nicholas Fair in York and Edinburgh’s market.
The Premier Inn poll found people spend £41 per visit to a festive market.