Wasps, rats, fleas and bedbugs, hundreds of thousands of bugs, insects and rodents are setting up home in the city, terrifying local residents.

Figures obtained by The Evening Telegraph under the Freedom of Information Act, show Peterborough City Council's pest control team were poised to tackle 2,223 incidents during 2007, from tiny ants to buzzing bees.

The team of five, who are qualified to identify and exterminate pests, were called out 791 times to tackle wasps, 542 times for rats and 403 times for mice.

The pest control team took thousands of calls last year from residents and businesses suffering from problems, which also included earwigs, maggots, silverfish and fleas.

But team leader of the council's dog and pest control service, Peter Harris, said Peterborough is no different to any other city with the types and numbers of call outs.

He said: "Different pests become a problem at different times of the year.

"Generally we will see more rats in the winter, looking for warmth and food.

"In the spring, squirrels are notoriously known for causing trouble when they set up nests in people's lofts and in the summer we see a lot of wasps and bees.

"Pests can be found anywhere, no matter how clean or dirty a person's house, garden or premises."

But Mr Harris said having any sort of infestation can effect people emotionally.

He said: "Some people accept it but it can be very upsetting for a lot of people

"With some insects, like biscuit beetles producing hundreds of offspring, it can be quite alarming but only because people don't understand their habitats.

"A lot of people ask us questions like, 'will the rat be able to get up my loo and attack me?'"

Mr Harris said the team have had many incidents which stick out over the years, including a rat which had electrocuted itself in a microwave and a tearaway ferret, which was eventually caught after hours running round a city school.

Mr Harris and his team offer advice and tips to people with pest problems in the hope of treating the source.

Breakdown of calls for types of pest during 2007

• 791 – wasps


• 542 – rats


• 403 – mice


• 112 – fleas


• 108 – bedbugs


• 88 – ants


• 59 – bees


• 42 – squirrels


• 19 – feral pigeons


• 11 – woodlice


• 6 – flies


• 2 – moths


• 2 – moles


• 1 – silverfish


• 1 – maggots


• 1 – earwigs

Full report on Peterborough City Council's website.

Dog Warden & Pest Control service information:
Call 01733 747474, or visit www.peterborough.gov.uk/pestcontrol, and for the council's emergency service, call 01733 425300.