Concerned parents have called for new rubbish bins to be installed in a Nailsea park to keep rats away from the children’s play area.

Rats have been spotted in the children's play area in Millennium Park, off Brockway, leading to concerns about safety.

North Somerset Council has cleared the area of litter, moved rubbish bins and trimmed back the vegetation to try to deter the creatures, but the authority has been unable to deter the rats from entering the park.

A member of the public has asked Nailsea Town Council to consider replacing the open-top bins with closed containers, where rubbish has to be pushed through.

A report to councillors says it is believed the rats are coming over from Tesco, in Stock Way North, and staff have baited the area and cut back the hedging to try to deter the creatures.

In a report to Nailsea Town Council's environment and leisure committee, town clerk Jo Duffy said: "North Somerset Council advised that to date they have re-sited the bins once already, carried out vegetation lifting and clearing, litter-picked extensively, repointed the wall to prevent rats nesting or coming through from the Tesco site and baited the area.

"It states its environmental protection officer has spent a huge amount of time trying to resolve the issue and they are now at a loss as to what to do next.

"It has no budget to purchase new enclosed bins.

"Would the town council consider purchasing replacement bins for the play area on the understanding that the bins would continue to be emptied by North Somerset Council?"

The bins would cost around £497 each, plus VAT, and include a section within the base for a rat bait station.

The committee voted against removing any bins from Millennium Park but agreed to launch a campaign to encourage people to pick up their litter from the play area.

Nailsea Town Council is planning to contact schools in September to set up a poster competition with pupils.

The posters will be designed to encourage park users not to drop their litter and to place it in one of the bins or take it home.

Nailsea Town Council will also remove the hedge which runs alongside the skatepark in the autumn to try to deter rats from nesting in that area as well.