Rats in their hundreds are inundating a housing estate in Northolt.
Ray Alldis, 69, who lives in the A2Dominion Estate in Kensington Road, said the brown house rats are everywhere and the problem which has existed for many years has become particularly bad in the last year.
Mr Alldis, who is retired and has lived in his home in Leander Road for 29 years, said: “They are everywhere it’s horrible. You often see them scurrying around and they are breeding rapidly.
“The rats are not frightened of humans and look very healthy. It’s a health hazard.
“I used to go fishing at the end of the road but the rats take your bait and crawl over your feet.
“A2Dominion say they come from the Grand Union Canal .
“They have been down to help and are coming this week again but when you get rid of one lot you get more coming.”
Mr Alldis, who lives with his wife Debra, chair of Northolt Residents Association, said he has rung Waterways and they are not interested.
He said somebody needs to claim responsibility and do something.
The 69-year-old said the problem is made worse by people who are uneducated in the disposal of their rubbish and put it outside a day before collection.
Dawn Wightman, A2Dominion’s Area Director, said: “We are aware of a vermin problem at our Northolt Estate and understand residents’ concerns.
“We have arranged for pest control measures to be carried out on a monthly basis.
“Residents are being urged to use the communal bin rooms to dispose of their rubbish correctly.
“We will continue to provide assistance and monitor the estate regularly.”
A spokeswoman from the Canal & River Trust said: “Rats don’t eat or live in canal water.
“So if they are on the towpath it’s because they’re scavengers that are being attracted by food in the rubbish that is inconsiderately being dumped along the canal.
“Please be nice to your canal and community by taking your rubbish home or making sure it ends up in a bin.
“Or join our volunteers who meet up to help keep the canal litter free.”
