This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/northern_ireland/7425024.stm

The article has changed 7 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Rats 'overrunning housing estate' Rats 'overrunning housing estate'
(30 minutes later)
Residents of a housing estate on the outskirts of Belfast have called for more to be done to help them rid their neighbourhood of rats.Residents of a housing estate on the outskirts of Belfast have called for more to be done to help them rid their neighbourhood of rats.
People living in Colinvale area of Poleglass said the problem had become worse since resurfacing work was carried out by the Housing Executive.People living in Colinvale area of Poleglass said the problem had become worse since resurfacing work was carried out by the Housing Executive.
Alesha Mullan, who lives in the area, said she is frightened to let her children play in the back garden.Alesha Mullan, who lives in the area, said she is frightened to let her children play in the back garden.
"I had a swing for the children and the rats were running across it," she said. An executive spokesperson said it was working to eradicate the problem.
Ms Mullan said she and her neighbours had contacted the Housing Executive about the problem. Ms Mullan said: "I had a swing for the children and the rats were running across it," she said.
She said she and her neighbours had contacted the Housing Executive about the problem.
However, she said it had not done enough to help.However, she said it had not done enough to help.
"We reported it to about six months ago and they came out within four days and put down a rat trap," she said."We reported it to about six months ago and they came out within four days and put down a rat trap," she said.
"They put the box down, but never bothered to follow it up to see if the problem had gone.""They put the box down, but never bothered to follow it up to see if the problem had gone."
On Thursday, a spokesman for the executive said it had "been working closely with our contractor and Lisburn Council to carry out the appropriate work to eradicate this problem".
"Last week, the contractor laid traps in the area and we believe these are beginning to work," he said.
Sinn Fein Councillor Angela Nelson said she had received a number of complaints from residents in the area.Sinn Fein Councillor Angela Nelson said she had received a number of complaints from residents in the area.
"The mild winters we have been experiencing these past couple of years, plus the early spring warm weather is not helping," she said."The mild winters we have been experiencing these past couple of years, plus the early spring warm weather is not helping," she said.
"The work that has been carried out recently has not helped, because the bins are only being emptied once every two weeks, that is also part of the problem.""The work that has been carried out recently has not helped, because the bins are only being emptied once every two weeks, that is also part of the problem."