A TEAM of pied pipers has been drafted in to Nailsea after mounting concerns about the number of rats in the town. North Somerset Council pest control teams have been busy laying bait in the town centre after people complained of seeing the vermin in the

A TEAM of pied pipers has been drafted in to Nailsea after mounting concerns about the number of rats in the town.North Somerset Council pest control teams have been busy laying bait in the town centre after people complained of seeing the vermin in the village green area in Somerset Square.The issue of rat infestation was also raised by local resident Dave Pearce at a meeting of Nailsea's Local Action Team.Mr Pearce said: "During my early morning walks I am noticing a lot more rats around the town."I have been led to believe that measures are being put in place to eradicate the problems but it doesn't seem to be working."I have seen them in the car parks, around the village green and at the old Glassworks site."There is also food left in the bins and across the millennium park which encourages the vermin to the area."Nailsea Town Council clerk Ian Morrell said he had received a number of complaints about rats in the area from concerned members of the public.Mr Morrell said: "Bait has been put down and three dead ones have been discovered by the village green."The problem is that areas such as the village green are highly populated by people, which in turn provides sources of food for vermin."North Somerset Council environmental health department workers have been and baited the area and the work has been funded by Nailsea Town Council."A North Somerset Council spokesman confirmed baiting in the town had taken place.He added: "There have been problems with rats reported in the area and we are currently in the middle of a baiting programme. "Our teams will return to the area shortly to see if the bait has worked.