Rats the size of 'Cheshire cats' are wreaking havoc on a residential street over in Sunderland.
Reports state that the rodents have appeared in drives as a result of a sewage problem, giving them access to Donnison Street via drains.
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And they've certainly been making the most of their time overground, racing across clothes lines, jumping out from under sofas and running wild in groups of up to 30.
The residents are so sick of the infestation, they've been taking out the creatures themselves.
Jimmy Smart, 70, who has lived on the street for 25 years, said: "I am catching two or three rats a day, and we've seen six at a time before getting in bins.
"They will run across the washing lines and up into the cherry trees to eat the cherries. It's crazy.
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"They have been appearing over the past six months or so. They keep getting bigger, they are like Cheshire cats. I even saw one running recently which looked like a Shetland pony."
Paul Reay, 63, who lives next door to Smart, said: "I caught one in the sitting room not long ago.
"I went outside and hadn't shut the door properly, and when I came back in I sat down in my chair watching the television.
"I heard something and thought, 'What was that?' I thought I had just imagined it.
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"I lifted up the settee and underneath was a rat the size of my arm."
Although locals have set out their own traps, they are a drop in the ocean next to the number of rats on the loose.
Reay added: "Out the back is riddled with them and we are catching them all of the time."
A number of the residents are calling on the council to step in and help them tackle the issue, with one saying: "Nothing has been done about it.
"They keep coming from the bushes outside the house but it's pointless even trying anymore."
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Councillor Michael Mordey, Deputy Leader of Sunderland City Council and Cabinet Member for Environment and Transport, commented on the infestation.
He said: "Having been made aware of this issue, environmental health officers visited the street on Monday afternoon and identified a number of faults in the sewer network.
"The faults have been reported to Northumbrian Water Limited for their attention."
A spokesperson from Northumbrian Water explained: "One of our Technical Support Advisors will be attending the site tomorrow (20 August), to carry out a full inspection.
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"We are only responsible for issues with rodents in our sewer networks and if we do find an issue relating to our pipes then we will take appropriate action and get the situation resolved.
"To ensure that the issue is fully resolved we're working closely with the local authority and environmental health who are also carrying out enquiries in the local area."
Featured Image Credit: North News and Pictures