Fast solution to the rat problem

THERE have been reports recently in the press of an increase in the rat population, not just the amount but the horrendous size of them.

No doubt this is caused by some of the brain- dead public that buy fast food ( fish and chips, pasties etc). They eat half and then throw the remains on the ground, along with packaging that it comes in.

There seems to be no way of discouraging or educating these people into acting in a more responsible manner. Perhaps if rat catchers were to put some of the really big rat carcasses in a sealed glass tank, and put some on display outside fast food shops, then this might make the general public think.

The actual carcass of a dead rat ( a really big one) would, I think, really hammer home to people the message about not littering the streets, much more effectively than posters with photos on.

Make it law that all fast food outlets display these tanks just outside of the premises.

In the recent past, the Government has spent millions on trying to eradicate the badger population, I think it is time to declare war on the rat population.

Just like fishermen do, let’s have competitions to see who can catch the most rats and to see who can catch the biggest.

Make the prize money bigtime, and make the rat catchers celebrities. Robert Tomlinson, Seaham

PARK BLOOMS: Crocuses in Backhouse Park, Sunderland, was taken by Richard Hopkins, of Murton. If you have any recent photographs of our area, contact Debbie Mitchie, Sunderland Echo, Echo House, Pennywell, Sunderland, SR4 9ER, tel. 501 7347, or email...