UP to 100 rats have been caught after a city flat ­complex was “plagued” with a rodent infestation.

And panicked nearby businesses are now warning they could be shut down by the rampant vermin.

6 A rat infestation is affecting the Smithfield and Stoneybatter area Credit: Getty - Contributor

Traders in Dublin’s Smithfield and Stoneybatter have issued an alert on a nearby apartment complex now “plagued with a very large volume” of the pests.

Dozens of the rodents have been caught at Marmion Court on Queen Street, adjacent to one of the capital’s busiest areas, the Smithfield and Stoneybatter Business Association said.

People have been luring them into the open with sausages and bacon and into large cages before drowning them.

However, the pests have still made their way outside the complex with sightings on Queen Street.

6 Dozen of rats are being caught and drowned

This has alarmed the businesses of nearby Smithfield Square, which is home to a number of popular tourist spots.

In a letter, SSBA chairman Greg Grouse, of the shop Fresh, wrote: “Over the past few weeks the residents of the local Marmion Court complex have been plagued with a very large volume of rodents.

As the council have not shown their support, the Business Association have given a small contribution (€150) to purchase large rodent traps.

“Up to 100 rodents have been caught but the situation is now starting to spread across our business locality.”

In the letter, the local traders are being advised to “revise their own storing of waste”.

They were told their waste containers should be “foolproof” so that “no rodents can feed from them”.

6 Sausages are being used to attract the rodents Credit: Crispin Rodwell - The Sun Dublin

The local restaurants and shops were warned they could be forced to close “almost immediately” as a result of the unwelcome visitors.

And they were made aware of a shop in another part of Dublin which had to close for three days due to a rodent problem.

A new 175-bedroom hotel is being built nearby at Hendrick Street and Mr Grouse believes the construction works may have disturbed some of the pests.

He told the Irish Sun: “There is a five-star hotel being built and it disrupted a couple of rodents.

“The business association came out to help the residents and we have the problem.

“But every member of the association must play their part and have a high standard of hygiene in terms of disposing of recycling.

6 Queen Street flats have been badly affected by the infestation

The number of rodents beneath the city is far greater than the population. We have gone out to prevent any major issues.”

Local mum Suzanne Bass said: “They are disgusting. We caught 17 and the mammy and daddy in one night, so 19 altogether, in a huge cage. We put rashers and sausages in, a bit of chocolate on another night. And then we drown them ourselves.”

6 Traders are in fear of losing their businesses

Another woman told us: “They are just running around the place.

“Bait is being laid now but that doesn’t mean they are not off breeding. They have been in homes running amok. There was 19 in one cage, 12 in another cage, nine in another. There were 11 caught running behind one woman’s door and she has four children.

“The bins are like a zebra crossing. You’re waiting for them to pass, one after another, under the stairs.

"This has been going on for years. The rats don’t care about the weather, they would be here if it was -30°C. A woman moved out in 2011 and she was complaining of rats for a long time.”

6 Local mum Suzanne Bass has been distubred by the rodents Credit: Crispin Rodwell - The Sun Dublin

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A Council spokeswoman said: “Dublin City Council is aware that there is an issue with rats in this complex. Over the last three weeks, we have had a dedicated professionally-trained team who have been working on resolving this issue.

“Housing Maintenance and Area staff will continue to monitor the situation. All appropriate actions are currently being taken.”

“Over the last three weeks staff from our caretakers, main- tenance and estate management teams have been in this complex on a daily basis