Funding cuts could lead to an increase in pest infestations, a new survey is warning, reported in LG News.
The annual survey by the British Pest Control Association found that nearly 20% of councils have stopped providing a pest control service in the past year due to budget cuts. English councils have been most adversely affected, with a 475% decrease in pest control staffing.
In 2012, Birmingham, South Staffordshire, South Tyneside and Sunderland were called out the most to deal with pests including rats and cockroaches.
The survey predicts that this figure will grow considerably in the near future with most councils charging for pest control services. Rats were the most common complaint dealt with by local authorities, equating to 42% of all pest services in the UK. Local authorities were also out tackling mice (nearly 20% of the time) and wasps (representing 23% of call-outs).
There has also been an increase in the number of bed bugs being reported, with London boroughs suffering the most from infestations.