Lynn Rogers is a modern-day Pied Piper - with a difference. She collects rats, but then she looks after them as family pets.

She now has 37 of them at her bungalow at the Blue Cross Animal Centre, in Burford, where she works as manager.

She said: "People have the wrong idea about rats. They are very loyal and loving pets.

"At night they come on to the sofa with me, lying on my lap and giving me a wash. I have grown very fond of them all." Lynn has names for each of her rodents, including Eli, Gucci, Gabriel, Angus, Hamish and Starman.

They are "fancy" rats, bred as pets and coming in a variety of different colours.

Her interest dates back six years when she took in two pet rats, Vincent and Julius, recovering from treatment at the Blue Cross charity's hospital in Victoria, London.

She describes herself as a foster mother to them all and uses them when giving talks to schoolchildren, and even to prisoners. She said her main concern is the proper care of caged animals and she believes very strongly that they should be given big enough cages.

The rats have been given one of the rooms in her bungalow.

"But they are free range," she added. "I let them out to roam about in turns.

"I live alone but I'm very happy with rats. They don't answer back."

Story date: Wednesday 20 October

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