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Pest control staff attended almost 20 cases of rat infestation per week in Renfrewshire last year, new figures have revealed.

Postcodes in Paisley, Johnstone and Renfrew made up the top 10 areas for rat problems in 2019, as staff were called out nearly 1,000 times to deal with vermin throughout the year.

Residents in Paisley’s Neilston Road, Glenapp Avenue, Lansbury Gardens, Ferguslie and Hillcrest Avenue all had to deal with multiple rat issues, as more than 30 visits were recorded between the streets.

And a similar amount of callouts were recorded across Broomward Drive, MacDowall Street, Ritchie Park and Floorsburn Crescent in Johnstone.

Nith Drive in Renfrew was also revealed as a hotspot for vermin.

The data emerged following a Freedom of Information request by the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS).

Rats were by far the most common problem pest control staff had to deal with as they faced well over 1,600 callouts throughout 2019.

Renfrewshire Council has said statistics may not necessary reflect the number of pests in an area as several calls can be received for the same issue.

A Renfrewshire Council spokesperson said: “Where reports are made to us regarding issues with rodents, the area is visited, and an appropriate course of treatment is carried out by our Pest Control Officer.

“The number of calls received from any given area does not always reflect the number of pests or issues that exist in that area as frequently many of the calls received and logged are for the same issue.

“However, we respond to pest complaints and treat, where needed, using an approved rodenticide until it is controlled and should there be recurring issues, we return and carry out any further necessary works.”

The figures only show visits made by the council’s pest control team and the data does not take into account activity by private providers.

Analysis of the data also showed there were nearly 250 visits made to properties dealing with wasp-related problems last year.

Pest control staff were called out to streets in Houston, Crosslee, Linwood and Kilbarchan to deal with the beasties as well as spots in Paisley and Johnstone.

The council’s pest control team can treat the likes of ants, beetles, bedbugs, fleas and cockroaches alongside rodents and wasps.

People can report pests online using the pest control reporting form on the council’s website.

There were 1,648 pest control call-outs in Renfrewshire in 2019. Here are the top 10 postcodes

PA4 0UR (Nith Drive, Renfrew) - 10 visits



PA2 6EW (Neilston Road, Paisley) - 9 visits



PA5 8HR (Broomward Drive, Johnstone) - 9 visits



PA5 8QH (MacDowall Street, Johnstone) - 9 visits

PA5 8HN (John Lang Street, Johnstone) - 8 visits

PA1 2HS (Canal Terrace, Paisley) - 7 visits

PA2 7PG (Glenapp Avenue, Paisley)- 7 visits

PA2 8QW (Hillcrest Avenue, Paisley) - 7 visits



PA3 2AA (Lansbury Gardens, Paisley) - 7 visits



PA5 8PF (Floorsburn Crescent, Johnstone) - 7 visits

There were 947 rat-related visits made in Renfrewshire in 2019. Here are the top 10 postcodes

PA4 0UR (Nith Drive, Renfrew) - 9 visits



PA2 6EW (Neilston Road, Paisley) - 9 visits



PA5 8HR (Broomward Drive, Johnstone) - 9 visits



PA5 8QH (MacDowall Street, Johnstone) - 8 visits



PA5 8JN (Ritchie Park, Johnstone) - 7 visits



PA5 8PF (Floorsburn Crescent, Johnstone) - 7 visits



PA2 7PG (Glenapp Avenue, Paisley) - 7 visits



PA2 8QW (Hillcrest Avenue, Paisley) - 6 visits



PA3 2AA (Lansbury Gardens, Paisley) - 6 visits



PA1 2QR (Ferguslie, Paisley) - 6 visits

There were 247 wasp-related visits made by the council last year. Here are the top 10 postcodes

PA6 7AW (Houston Road, Crosslee) - 3 visits



PA1 3EE (Strathmore Avenue, Paisley - 3 visits

PA6 7DA (Crawford Road, Houston) - 3 visits



PA2 7BE (Hawkhead Road, Paisley) - 3 visits

PA6 7DN (Leeburn Avenue, Houston) - 2 visits



PA10 2DB (Milliken Park Road, Kilbarchan) - 2 visits



PA2 8TG (Glenfield Crescent, Paisley) - 2 visits



PA5 8LH (Linnpark Gardens, Johnstone) - 2 visits



PA2 7BT (Hawkhead Avenue, Paisley) - 2 visits



PA3 3TD (Edmiston Drive, Linwood) - 2 visits