Large pack of rats spotted in Glasgow's Alexandra Park

Footage exclusively shared with the Glasgow Times shows the vermin making their way from the banks of the Alexandra Park pond towards the public. 

Described as "huge" and by one eye-witness as like "bunny rabbits", the rats were captured on film at around 6.30pm yesterday by a member of the public. 

The images come amid a row over cleansing in the city with unions and opposition politicians accusing council bosses of allowing mess to rise in Glasgow. 

Just last week, the GMB Union inflated a giant rat in the West End to "shine a spotlight on the crisis". It also launched a 'rat register' to keep track of the city's vermin. 

READ MORE: Giant rat blown up at Glasgow waste depot in 'cleansing crisis' plea

However, Glasgow City Council bosses have maintained they have increased its cleansing budget in recent years and accused unions and opposition of faking their concern. 

Cludgie, the giant rat, and GMB boss Chris Mitchell

A council spokesman said: “We are aware of rats within Alexandra Park and have pest controls measures in place within the park.

“Using pest control treatments in public spaces can be challenging as the baits clearly pose a risk to other wildlife as well as household pets and so must be deployed appropriately

“In all situations rats are looking for sources of food and unfortunately rats are drawn towards the feed that is scattered for the birds that also live in the park.

“We urge visitors to the park to limit as far as possible the food they leave for the birds as this will help to minimise the draw to visible places for these rodents.

“We have also introduced large capacity litter bins into the park, which have significantly improved the containment of litter, and this will also help minimise the impact of the pests within the park.

“We will continue to monitor this situation closely and deploy pest control treatments in a range of ways to ensure they are as effective as possible while also protecting other animals.”