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A Newcastle dad has been left furious after social services contacted him about taking his children out ratting.

Neil McCann, takes his eight-year-old son and nine-year-old daughter rat catching in Newcastle city centre near Old Eldon Square.

Along with their Jack Russell, Charlie, the family head out to restaurants in the area on a Friday and Saturday night to catch rats.

Neil, of Walkerdene, has slammed Newcastle City Council after receiving letters from social workers saying he can't take his children into the city centre after 9pm.

He said: "We go every Friday and Saturday night, never, ever on a school night.

"We catch copious amounts of rats and some people frown upon it, some people don't.

"I have been approached by the police on different occasions and received letters from the social services.

"They say I can't take the children out after 9pm. The children never touch the rats, it is me who picks them up.

"We go behind the main restaurants where the bins are. You would be very, very surprised by how many rats there are. I feel like we are keeping the city clean."

He added: "Restaurants quite often give us free food to say thank you."

Neil said there were more dangerous activities his children could be taking part in.

He said: "I don't take them night fishing near cliffs or have them at big camp fires.

"They love it. My daughter, who is nine years old, particularly loves it."

A spokesperson for Newcastle City Council said: “We have been in touch with Mr McCann to offer advice as a result of information received from Northumbria Police and their potential concerns after he was seen ‘ratting’ in the city centre.

“In our most recent correspondence on January 13, our Children’s Social Care team informed him we had been informed he was seen ‘ratting’ with his daughter and we explained if any advice or support was required he could make contact with us.

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“On another occasion in June of last year, we advised Mr McCann against the time and location of his activity on safety grounds as there were two young children accompanying him in the early hours of the morning by a busy highway.

“Rats are controlled animals as they can transmit disease, contaminate food, and damage buildings.

"Members of the public are advised to report sightings and infestations to Envirocall.