A pensioner plagued by rats claims Oxford City Council is not doing enough to help.

David Watson, 65, of Lydia Close, Barton, has put together a petition of 42 people "gravely concerned" about the number of rats they have seen in the area recently.

After seeing them around bins and in nearby subways they are now in his house.

He said: "I slept on the sofa on Saturday night and there were scratching sounds in the kitchen. I went in and saw bread all over the floor."

The earliest council pest controllers could come out was last Monday.

They laid down pellets, but since then the problem has not gone away.

Mr Watson said: "I went in to make a cup of tea and there was scrambling and screeching noises.

"The council said it takes a week to take effect, but in the meantime I don't know how many rats there are.

"I'm disgusted at the council. I pay £61 council tax a month, but when we want anything done we can't get it. It's getting beyond a joke."

City council spokesman Annette Cunningham said: "He rang up on Monday and it was treated as an emergency.

"It takes about seven days to work, so we have done what we can and we have to wait for it to work."

She confirmed officers were also working to control the wider issue of rats.

Ms Cunningham added: "We have been made aware of sightings of rats in Lydia Close and the surrounding area and are working to address this.

"Our pest control surveyors have paid several visits over the last few months and have laid some permanent bait boxes.

"We are also writing to residents requesting that they ensure rubbish is kept inside bins and that they avoid leaving food out for wild animals."