Family life ruined by rats

The rodents have come down the chimney into the lounge and kitchen.

And John and Joanna Dupree say that building work has made their bedroom too damp to use.

They have to sleep downstairs.

The couple moved into their two-bedroomed rented home in Birch View, Sidley, with their sons Callum, four and Cai, five, in August.

They knew before the move that the end-of-terrace house next door to their new home would be demolished as part of an operation to build 26 two, three and four-bedroomed homes to be rented out by Rother Homes.

Joanna, 25, said their private landlord had allowed for the building work upheaval in their rent.

What the couple had not bargained for were the subsequent wet walls, mould ... and rats.

The couple said they complained to Denne Construction two weeks ago. Denne site foreman, Andy Foreman, said: "I was unaware the Duprees had a problem until last Friday. We are going to build a new external wall for them.

"Work will start very soon and will take about a week to complete."

Rother council s environmental health officer called at the house this week and dealt with the rats in the Duprees garden.