A WATER company has joined forces with a pest control company to tackle a rat epidemic.

Yorkshire Water bosses say an explosion in the brown rat population is under control after Rentokil baited 95,000 manholes.

Tony Huddlestone, sewer baiting contract manager for Yorkshire Water, said the company had been working with local councils across North Yorkshire to identify problem areas.

"As one of the largest water boards in the UK, we manage vast areas of urban and rural land and have to work hard to deliver the high standards of service our customers expect," he said.

"By working closely with 23 local councils and Rentokil, we were able to monitor and combat any rat infestations.

"Proactive sewer baiting enabled us to bring the rodent population under control and Rentokil are always on hand to deal with any reported sightings by residents, visiting homes or sites in less than 48 hours."

As part of its regeneration programme, Yorkshire Water has adopted the National Protocol for Co-operation on Rodent Control, which sets out guidelines for partnerships between water boards, local authorities and pest control companies.

Richard Jones, key customer director at Rentokil, believes that the lack of sewer bating in other areas of the country has helped rat populations increase dramatically.

He said: "There is no doubt that rodent activity is on the up and the fact many companies are reducing sewer baiting is only allowing the problem to escalate.

"There is a link between the pests above and below ground, and the work that we carry out for Yorkshire Water covers both areas to combat the growth in rat numbers.

"With the privatisation of the sewer network set to come into force within a decade, water companies and councils need to take steps now to work together and put the necessary pest control measures in place for the future."

Figures from the National Pest Technicians Association (NPTA) show that brown rat numbers increased by almost 40 per cent from 1999 to 2005.

While the NPTA's Rodent Report 2007 showed a slight reduction in rat activity, other sources suggests the national rat problem intensified still further last summer and autumn.