Rats! The end is nigh for No 11's uninvited guests

A rat-catcher has been called into Downing Street to deal with rodents that so far have been captured on television cameras, but not by any traps at No 10.

A family of the creatures is thought to be hiding in bushes outside George Osborne's residence at No 11. One rat was seen recently sniffing outside the Prime Minister's front door during a live report on BBC News, while ITV's Lucy Manning has also appeared on screen with an unwelcome background distraction scuttling along the footpath.

Two officers from Westminster Council are on the case, and yesterday a man in a khaki jacket and a wide-brimmed hat appeared with what for the rats was a particularly ominous Waitrose carrier bag, containing traps and poison.