Rats have made Norwich flats their new home with residents blaming night time fly-tippers for the pest problem.

The creatures have taken up home in Broadland Housing Association flats in Earlham Green Lane near the Fiveways roundabout.

In a letter to tenants the housing association said the rats were being attracted by litter dumped near to the flats' bins and around hedges in the communal gardens.

They reminded tenants fly-tipping was against their tenancy agreement.

But Sara Stubbs who lives in the flats with her 17-year-old son said she had seen cars pull up to the bins at night and dump rubbish.

The 43 year-old said: 'I've seen them at 11pm filling rubbish in our bins.

'We've had rats here for a while so I phoned up Broadland to get something done.'

She called Broadland's customer services three weeks ago and pest controllers were sent out to lay poison and traps.

The letter was then sent out to all families in the flats.

The housing association said it had also told Norwich City Council's environmental health department about the problem.

Kerrie Gallagher, area manager at Broadland Housing, said: 'We are aware of environmental health issues in this area and have been working with local residents and other agencies to resolve the problem as quickly as possible.

'The matter has now been referred to Norwich City Council's environmental health team'.

•Do you have a story about Earlham for the Evening News? Contact reporter Tom Bristow on 01603772313 or email tom.bristow@archant.co.uk.