THEY are the emerald jewels in Southampton’s crown.

The award-winning parks are a green oasis where people can escape from the hustle and bustle of the city centre.

Yet there are fears they are becoming overrun with rats which are thriving on discarded takeaways and other waste thrown away by shoppers and late-night revellers.

Opposition councillors have blamed swingeing budget cuts for the increasing number of vermin infesting areas just yards from the city’s busiest shopping precinct and a children’s playground.

Concerned residents have contacted the Daily Echo, with one saying they had seen as many as six rats – which can carry diseases and parasites fatal to humans – at one spot.

Now, a Daily Echo investigation has revealed groups of rats near West Quay, hiding in shrubs waiting to pounce on crumbs left on the street.

In one patio area in Vincent’s Walk, opposite a playground, rats can be heard squeaking in the bushes and seen jumping across pavements.

Conservative opposition councillors say cutbacks including £500,000 to the street cleaning budget and the axeing of a pest control officer earlier this year has contributed to the rise of the rats.

Daily Echo:

Group leader Cllr Royston Smith said: “The council needs to prioritise certain services, and when you are talking about vermin and rodents then that is probably where you want to be focusing your attention.

“When people are throwing away half-eaten takeaways that aren’t cleaned away soon enough then that just encourages more and more vermin to live on the streets as they will have all they need.

“Southampton is going to end up being famous for traffic jams and rats and we don’t want to be at the top of that league table.”

Daily Echo: Southampton City Council leader Royston Smith and HMS Astute

Cllr Royston Smith

Infestation of vermin Karen Roger from the New Forest was Christmas shopping with her daughters when she took a shortcut around the back of Primark and noticed the infestation of six rats eating the remains of someone’s lunch.

The 40-year-old law lecturer said: “I think it is important something is done quickly, I was quite sad to see the city looking so run down. It’s pretty shocking to see that amount of rats all at once.

“There is obviously a problem. The area is infested and it’s not acceptable because they carry so many diseases, I’m not afraid of much but rats I cannot stand and I’m sure others will feel the same.”

Council leader Cllr Simon Letts said: “There’s an issue with rats in all city centres and all parts of the world. I don’t think it’s a particular issue in Southampton, it’s a matter of the fast food world that we live in.

“Rats depend on a food source and perhaps there is a trusted food source here. The only way we could have a reduction of rats is if we get a cold hard winter. Street cleaning in the city centre has not been affected by the cuts, there is no issue there and I think that’s just mischief making by the other councillors.”

Daily Echo: Cllr Simon Letts

City council leader Simon Letts

Pest control work on rise pest control specialist Sean Whelan, from Whelan Pest Prevention, said: “We have had an increase year on year in the numbers of rats we have been dealing with, and there are a number of reasons for that.

“There’s a lot of building work going on in the city, a lot of food debris is being left around and there is an issue with rubbish collections. Cutting the council’s cleaning budget again is going to contribute to it.

Daily Echo: Pest controller Sean Whelan checks for a bedbug infestation

Pest control specialist Sean Whelan

“Southampton is a very busy city for us with regard to rats. The public needs to become more aware of the fact that it’s not normal for rats to be running around near playgrounds and on the streets in the day.

“The public have to play their part by putting their waste in bins, keeping the place tidy and not giving any encouragement to the rats.”

A spokesman for Southampton City Council said that a team of pest control staff are now working to get the situation under control.

“Rats are an inevitable part of the urban landscape and there are areas that become hotspots of activity from time to time.

“We are aware that there is a problem around Pound Tree Road and Vincent’s Walk and it is part of the regular programme of baiting of the city centre parks.

“Parks staff regularly empty all bins within the city centre parks and carry out daily litter picks to minimise the build-up of food stuffs that attract and sustain a rat population.”

The spokesman urged people using the park to dispose of their waste properly and not encourage rats by feeding pigeons, squirrels and other wildlife.

“The council is grateful to receive reports of rats from residents as it helps shape the way we carry out treatments in our parks or our other land. Naturally the health and safety of our residents’ is paramount.”