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/world/europe/7737604.stm
The article has changed 5 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Rats return to Pied Piper's town | Rats return to Pied Piper's town |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| The Pied Piper's services might be needed again in Hamelin, northern Germany - because the rats are back. | The Pied Piper's services might be needed again in Hamelin, northern Germany - because the rats are back. |
| An abandoned allotment site on the edge of town has become a haven for rats, with plenty of discarded food and rubbish lying around. | |
| According to legend, in 1284 Hamelin - called Hameln in Germany - was infested with rats but a Pied Piper lured them out of town by playing a pipe. | According to legend, in 1284 Hamelin - called Hameln in Germany - was infested with rats but a Pied Piper lured them out of town by playing a pipe. |
| He later lured the children out too - but the town still celebrates the tale. | He later lured the children out too - but the town still celebrates the tale. |
| Next year the town plans to mark the 725th anniversary of the Pied Piper conquering the plague, with various events including a huge children's procession. | Next year the town plans to mark the 725th anniversary of the Pied Piper conquering the plague, with various events including a huge children's procession. |
| Medieval buildings preserve the charm of Hamelin Instead of drowning the rats in the nearby river, as the Pied Piper allegedly did, the authorities have placed traps around the allotment site to deal with them. | Medieval buildings preserve the charm of Hamelin Instead of drowning the rats in the nearby river, as the Pied Piper allegedly did, the authorities have placed traps around the allotment site to deal with them. |
| A spokesman for the authorities, Thomas Wahmes, said the problem was for now localised - but there was a threat that the rats could spread to a neighbouring housing estate. | A spokesman for the authorities, Thomas Wahmes, said the problem was for now localised - but there was a threat that the rats could spread to a neighbouring housing estate. |
| Mr Wahmes said the rat population had "exploded" on the allotment site, but he could not tackle them there because he would be trespassing on private property, although it was not clear who owned which plots. | Mr Wahmes said the rat population had "exploded" on the allotment site, but he could not tackle them there because he would be trespassing on private property, although it was not clear who owned which plots. |
| "We need to deal with the rats directly on the spot," he told the BBC News website on Wednesday, adding that the infested area was about the size of a football pitch. | |
| He said offers of help had come from all over Germany since the media had broken news of Hamelin's new rat problem. | |
| "There is no rat problem in the town centre and we hope that within weeks we'll have removed this threat," he said. | |
| Do you live in Hamelin? Have you been affected by the issues in this story? What are your experiences? Send us your comments using the form below. | Do you live in Hamelin? Have you been affected by the issues in this story? What are your experiences? Send us your comments using the form below. |
| Send your pictures to yourpics@bbc.co.uk, text them to +44 7725 100 100 or you have a large file you can upload here. | Send your pictures to yourpics@bbc.co.uk, text them to +44 7725 100 100 or you have a large file you can upload here. |
| Read the terms and conditions | Read the terms and conditions |
| At no time should you endanger yourself or others, take any unnecessary risks or infringe any laws. | At no time should you endanger yourself or others, take any unnecessary risks or infringe any laws. |
| In most cases a selection of your comments will be published, displaying your name and location unless you state otherwise in the box below. | In most cases a selection of your comments will be published, displaying your name and location unless you state otherwise in the box below. |