NEW FOREST: Angry parents demand action over 'health hazard for children'

A NEW FOREST couple have vowed not to let their daughter near a local playground after they spotted rats running across it.

Tony and Emma Hayward believe that the rats are nesting in an overgrown churchyard next to the play area in Lymington.

They are calling on leaders of St Thomas Church, St Thomas Street, to clean up the site, which they believe is a serious health hazard for children.

"It's disgusting," said Mr Hayward, 33. "I have seen rats five or six times shooting across the playground. With the state of the churchyard, I am not surprised."

The main section of the churchyard, which the public can walk through to reach the busy High Street, is maintained by the town council and volunteers from the congregation.

However, the bottom area of the yard, which is all situated behind the church, has been left to grow freely, with church bosses describing it as a "wildlife area".

Mr Hayward and his 22-year-old wife, of Lodge Road, Pennington, will ban their six-month-old daughter Chantelle from playing at the Emsworth Road recreation ground in the future unless action is taken.

"I would not bring my little one down here when she gets older," Mr Hayward said. "She could get bitten and rats carry all sorts of diseases."

The couple raised the subject with the church vicar, who has since left the area, several months ago but failed to make any progress.

No burials have taken place for more than 100 years at the historic church, where some unmarked graves are believed to date back to the 13th century.

Church warden Geoff Townley, pictured, said he had not received complaints about rats before but pledged to investigate the claims.

He said: "We have arranged a visit with the pest control officer from the district council this week and he will advise us."