20 October 2023 , 15:31
1268
0
A seven-year-old girl was left terrified after a large rat invaded a children's playground in Glasgow.
The rodent was spotted running across the Happy Children's Park on Kelbourne Street, Maryhill, on Tuesday towards the play equipment before hiding underneath the roundabout. A mum, who was disgusted by the sight, said she saw the animal on the children's equipment too and immediately took her daughter home to get sanitised afterwards. She said: "There's a fence right next to the park and behind it there's what looks like an old football pitch, it is overgrown with grass and bushes. The rat came running out of there and it was massive.
The giant rat spotted by the mum in the children's playground (Glasgow Live/Media Scotland)"It was running all over the play equipment and was up on the roundabout. The rat wasn't even scared and was just roaming around," she added. "It was revolting and made both of us feel sick. My daughter was frightened and wanted to leave, she said she is never going back. We had been touching the play equipment so had to rush home and get our hands washed."
Glasgow Live reported she she reported the incident to Glasgow City Council but has not heard back from them yet. "The place is overrun with rats and it's disgusting. Nobody is doing anything about it. The rats are running all over the equipment that the kids are touching the equipment. They are vermin and who knows what illness you can pick up from them. I am worried about my child becoming unwell."
Glasgow City Council confirmed its pest control team visited the site. A spokeswoman said: "This week we have received a report of a sighting of a rat at the park, our pest control has been out to have a look. They think the rats might be coming from gated, vacant land next to the park and have asked the owners to cut back vegetation and treat the area. Pest control will go back and check, but we would also remind members of the public to dispose of any rubbish in bins provided in the park so as to deter the rats as well."
Warning over new breed of super rodents feared to be 'threat to humans'
* An AI tool was used to add an extra layer to the editing process for this story. You can report any errors to webhomepage@mirror.co.uk