'Invasion of rats'

Owners of shops situated near part of the quay that has collapsed in Senglea have complained to Labour leader Alfred Sant they are facing an invasion of rats emerging from beneath the quay.

During a visit to the area yesterday, Dr Sant hit out at the government for failing to repair the quay, six months after it had promised to do so. He recalled that the Prime Minister had made the promise in August, after the collapse in December 2003, but so far nothing had been done.

The Senglea local council had said it was unable to take on the repair job itself because this would have entailed setting aside all its projects and focusing solely on the quay.

The government had the duty and responsibility to repair it, Dr Sant insisted.