A leafy Cardiff suburb, Pontcanna, has raised concerns about litter in the area after a rat was spotted foraging in Severn Road yesterday morning by resident Maf Lewis during daylight.

Mr Lewis, 45, a credit director who has lived in big cities like London, Sydney and Los Angeles, has seen an increasing problem with litter, which he blames for the rodent sighting.

He said: “I have never seen rats here before but I have seen a gradual increase in the amount of litter. Seeing one scavenging on Severn Road shows litter is obviously a big problem. The rat was 50 yards from the junior school.”

Julie Barrett, director of the Chartered Institute of Environmental Health in Wales, said one of the main ways to keep rats off the street was to keep the streets clean and tidy.

She said: “There are not more rats but they are starting to come out more so they are more visible. They live on the food that people throw away.

“They will not attack people but their urine is a health issue if they get onto surfaces where you prepare food or where your child plays.

“Clear up the rubbish and don’t put it out too soon.”