"While speedwalking along Donnington Road last week an elderly gentleman with a shopping bag crossed the quiet road from my left. As he reached the middle of the road (partly hidden from my view by a parked car) there occurred an out-of-the-blue commotion;"Squeak squeak squeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeak squeak squeak !" and then "get out of it, go on get out of it!" accompanied by frantic flapping of the shopping bag.
Unbelievably, he revealed, a rat had actually "gone for him". He felt it should have been the other way around and had not seen a rat in that road before. I think he was only shaken....as was the old man!
My return journey half an hour later showed "ratty" happily mooching through gutter debris under the same parked car. I didn't get too close ! So, be on the lookout for rampant rats fellow residents."
If things carry on like this we'll have to call in Rentokil. Or Gino D'Acampo.