RATS "as big as cats" are plaguing a residential area of Brecon, it has been claimed.

Pensioners living in Newton Green, Llanfaes say they have seen the rodents in their gardens but have been told Powys council does not offer a pest control service. The council axed its pest control service two years ago.

The residents, who are mostly pensioners, now face having to find up to £60 each for a private rat catcher.

Grandmother Maureen Holmes said she was shocked by the size of the vermin and worried about the risk to her grandchildren.

She said: "It’s a health hazard. We have grandchildren and great grandchildren around here and it’s not safe. They are the size of cats."

Several of the residents have reported seeing rats in their gardens and around their paths and drains. Many of them are concerned about the welfare of their grandchildren because rat urine can spread, potentially life-threatening Weil’s disease.

Newton Green resident and Brecon town councillor Rose Evans was the first person to contact Powys council and was told she needed to seek a private provider.

Cllr Evans said: "I was told to contact a private operator. The council do not want to do a thing.

"Local people need to be made aware of the problem."

Mike Goldstraw, a 69 year old resident of Newton Green, said: "It’s plagued with rats here. We’ve been in touch with environmental health at Powys council and they haven’t even had the curiosity to ring us back."

Mr Goldstraw thinks that the number of rats spotted by him and his neighbours could be related to Powys council’s recent decision to only collect refuse once every three weeks. Food waste and recycling is collected separately every week by the council.

Richard and Kay Kerr have also seen the rats and say that they are now afraid to leave the door open.

Mr Kerr said: "We’ve paid our council taxes all our lives and this is what we get in return."

A number of the residents have been in touch with Powys council and voiced their concerns but the council no longer offer a pest control service.

A spokesman from Powys council said: "The budget for the pest control department was cut in August 2014 due to financial pressures that the council was facing at the time.

"Pest control was never a statutory service it was a discretionary service and it was not free of charge.

"There are professional private pest control services that the public can access at competitive rates."