TERRIFIED residents of a Newport street say their houses are overrun with rats - and fear someone could contract potentially fatal Weil's disease as a result.

People in St Vincent Road, near Newport's former art college, are calling on the city's council to deal with the problem.

Bryn Jones, 64, said his house is overrun with the rodents, who live in his wall cavities. He said: "I can hear them in the walls and it's absolutely terrifying. We caught one of them in a trap in my airing cupboard last week.

"We've had rat droppings in the kitchen, and my wife and I have both been ill with stomach problems in the last month.

"My wife has a heart condition and this is doing nothing to help her. "We can't sleep at night through fear of one of them climbing over our bed and over our pillows."

Mr Jones said the derelict former art college, which has been hit by two major fires in recent months, and other empty warehouses are a breeding- ground for rats. He also says rubbish left by neighbouring restaurants should be cleared up by Newport council.

Mr Jones' next-door neighbour, Harold Bryan, who has two children Michael, eight, and Rebecca, 13, also said his house is infested with rats.

He said he discovered they had the vermin last weekend. Mr Bryan said: "We've been too afraid to tell the children because we don't want to scare them, but we'll have to tell them now. I am afraid for their safety and of the diseases rats carry."

One, Weil's disease, is potentially fatal and is carried in the rodents' urine. Council pest controllers are now operating in the street.

Victoria ward councillor Harry Williams said: "The old art college building would be an ideal breeding- ground for rats. People leaving rubbish around there would attract them. "Something has to be done and environmental health need to be involved."

PICTURED: Bryn Jones (right) and neighbour Harold Bryan.