A NEWPORT dad says rats are thriving on rubbish and anglers' bait left at a popular pond in the city.

Kevin Evans claims Lliswerry Pond has 'gone to the rats' after years of neglect.

Mr Evans, 46, a lorry driver, of Lliswerry Road, whose back garden borders the pond, said: "A couple of years ago it was a pleasure to walk round the pond. Now it's like Beirut.

"It hasn't been regularly cleaned for years even though it gets used by a lot of anglers. I've seen rats eating from anglers' baitboxes. It's a breeding area for rats.

"This pond is being run down and the angling club is concentrating elsewhere. They blame the council and the council blames them."

Mr Evans has complained over the past three years and the council has laid poisoned traps.

He said: "These rats are coming into my garden and others round here.

The other week I was eating my tea and a rat as big as a kitten was watching me from the bottom of the lawn. I've had them in my loft.

"You can catch Weil's disease off rats and that can be fatal. I've got an 11-year-old daughter and my neighbour has three children."

The pond is popular with coarse fishermen, lies on the edge of Lliswerry Park and can be seen from the nearby main railway line. It is also used as a shortcut between Alway and Somerton.

Dennis Ballett, chairman of Newport Angling Association, which holds the fishing rights, said: "I've seen rats at our other waters but I've never seen one there.

"Our lads picked up 60 bags of rubbish there last week. We do clean up there but it belongs to the council and they are supposed to do it.

"It's difficult for us to control the pond as most rubbish is left by passers-by and not anglers. Bait goes in the water. We are not to blame."

Newport council confirmed that officers had visited the site following complaints, but no one was available to comment on what would be done to stop the problems.