Another local authority is ending their free callouts for many common pests, such as mice, rats and cockroaches.

The people of Pendle will now be charged to call out council pest controllers after councillors noticed they were being called out by the same premises "time and time again", normally because prevention advice was ignored. The free service has been called to action over 8,000 times by residents in the last seven years.

Council leader, Cllr Mohammed Iqbal, commented:

"The budget savings are needed due to drastic cuts in our Government grant [...] Yes we will be charging for exterminating rats and mice, but it's still very competitive [...] our fee will be just £20."

The Councillors have also agreed to a 10% price rise for dealing with ants, fleas, wasps and bedbugs.

Pendle Council is not the first local authority to start charging for a visit from a pest controller - neighbouring Blackburn with Darwen Council have put even higher charges in place.