Residents are relieved that proposals to make them pay to rid their village of rats have been dropped.

Alan Feast, of Appleton, asked villagers to lobby the Vale of White Horse District Council to ensure that plans to charge for domestic rat extermination were defeated.

The proposals were dropped shortly before the council's budget was set on Wednesday.

Mr Feast, who lives in Netherton Road with his wife Pamela, said: "I am pleased with the news. I am sure others who have been troubled by rats will be equally pleased.

"The service must incur costs to the local authority but they should be borne by the community as a whole." Mr Feast said that although Appleton was not overrun, rats were a constant trouble.

He said villagers were against the move to charge for the service and many, particularly the elderly, could not afford it.

He added that pest control officers had been called out many times.

Charging for domestic rat treatment was put forward by council officers as an option to save £15,000 under a review of funding of pest control services.

Laurel Symons, councillor for Fitzharrys, said: "None of us was happy about the proposals, especially as rats are increasing in numbers across the county. "The idea was dropped before the budget was set."

The Vale already charges to get rid of rats at commercial premises.

Story date: Tuesday 22 February

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