Rats and other rodents roaming around our homes and gardens is less than ideal but how can we keep them away?
Gardening experts are warning homeowners to protect their homes from rats as they will be looking to find warmth during the cold winter months.
The experts also warned homeowners to look out for super rats after a woman in Bolton was afraid to enter her garden after super rats had taken over the space.
The rats dug holes to access her neighbours' gardens and the rats made it impossible for her grandchildren to play in her garden due to rat droppings and the smell of urine.
Any rubbish lying around could mean rats become attracted to your garden (Image: Getty Images)
While you might think a super rat is a rat that's much bigger than the usual kind, this isn't the case.
The Pest UK website explains that the term super rat "refers to their immunity to current poison baits used across the UK."
Gardening experts at GardeningExpress have shared some tips to help you keep rats out of your garden.
Debris, rubbish and garden waste that's left on the floor provides rats with the ideal nest as it's warm and attractive to them.
Make sure you clean up any that you might have accumulated over the winter and make sure your garden has no spaces that might entice the rodents.
If you have any gaps or holes in your garden, you'll need to cover them up if you want to avoid rats getting in.
Rats can enter the smallest of holes in garden sheds and plant pots and choose where they'd like to make a new home.
No matter how small the gaps are, make sure they're covered up to help deter rats.
Rats don't like strong scents such as garlic powder or peppermint oil so if you've got some vulnerable areas in your garden, it's worth sprinkling some on the ground to deter them.
Make sure all drains and grates in your garden are covered and intact.
If they need replacing, try to do this and check around the perimeter of your home for any points of potential entry for rats.
For rats to set up a new home, there needs to be a water source so it's important to avoid offering them a dripping tap, water butt or blocked drain.
If you have a dry compost heat in your garden, this will attract rats as it makes for a warm home.
To deter them, keep your compost heap moist throughout.
Rats are attracted to food left around, including on bird tables (Image: Getty Images)
If you've got a bird table, it's worth checking for any spilt bird seeds in the late afternoon when birds have stopped feeding.
Bird tables are notorious for attracting rats so tidying up should help keep them away.
Chris Bonnett, gardening expert and founder of GardeningExpress, explained that colder weather can lead to rats finding a warm space in homes and gardens.
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He said: "You may find that they are trying to enter your home and if you're experiencing them in your garden it means they've viewed it as a suitable place to begin building a nest and keep warm.
"This is likely to happen if you have any debris and garden waste on the ground or sources of food growing such as fruits and vegetables.
"Having rats in the garden is a major inconvenience so we've shared a range of ways people can keep the rats out of their homes altogether."