Seaside hospitality bosses fear reports of 'super rats' will dissuade ... trends now
Hoteliers and B&B owners in a pretty seaside town say they fear claims its infested with 'super rats' will put holidaymakers off visiting.
The resort of Tenby in South Wales offers a sandy beach, a pretty harbour and scenic cliff views which attracts thousands of tourists each year.
But with the busy Easter break just weeks away, tourist businesses are worried bookings could be hit by stories about a new breed of visitor - 'monster' rodents.
Locals say their town has been invaded by an army of giant rats who have made their home on a huge hill overlooking Tenby's famous golden sands – and they fear their ability to breed prolifically will soon lead to the seaside town being overrun.
But hoteliers today played down the fears, with one telling MailOnline: 'It's not true that we are being overrun with huge rats.
'The council are doing their best to eradicate the problem, but we want the place to be perfect for a bumper summer season. Who wants to hear about rats all over the place?'
They added: 'The last thing we want after two miserable years caused by Covid is to have another poor summer.'
A member of staff at harbourside said everyone was hoping for a busy summer – and they did not need visitors being deterred from staying by claims of giant-sized rats.
'We all just want to be back in business with no distractions,' he said.
Another B&B owner added: 'We do no need people to exaggerate when there plainly is not a problem. It has been sorted by the council pest control.'
As well as residing a hill overlooking the town's Castle Beach in West Wales, the rats have also occasionally been spotted in the town scavenging around rubbish that has been left by waste bins or dropped in the street.
DJ Chris Evans even made light of the issue last week to his Virgin radio listeners when he joked, 'I quite like rats'.
Pest exterminators have been laying traps along the clifftop overlooking the beach – voted as one of the best in the UK in 2019 - where several burrows have been found.
Pest exterminators have been laying traps along the clifftop overlooking beach – voted as one of the best in the UK in 2019 - where several burrows have been found
Locals say their town has been invaded by an army of giant rats who have made their home on a huge hill overlooking Tenby's famous golden sands
Rat burrows have been found among the undergrowth close to the Tenby lifeboat station
Other burrows have been
