Overfeeding of garden birds, more rubbish left out for fortnightly bin collections and greater use of home compost bins are leading to a growing urban rat and mouse problem, a survey suggested yesterday.
The report by pest controllers said modern lifestyles were providing too much food for rodents in towns and cities - and they were becoming an increasing problem as a result.
More than eight out of 10 environmental health or pest control officers blamed overfeeding of garden birds for increasing urban rodent populations, a survey of councils by the National Pest Technicians Association found.
More than half (55 per cent) pinpointed poor management of public sewers, while almost half (48 per cent) said badly managed domestic waste was a problem.
Almost as many (47 per cent) pointed towards home compost bins which rats and mice could get into easily.
The report by the NPTA said providing food for garden birds, composting and efforts to boost recycling with fortnightly bin collections were all important to help the environment.
But, the association said, household waste needed to be kept in properly secured wheelie bins, rather than bags or boxes, particularly where there were increasing amounts of waste left out for alternate week collections.
Compost bins should only take vegetable waste, and should be mounted on solid surfaces and securely covered to prevent rodents getting in, the association's report said.
It also recommended the use of bird tables to cut down on the numbers of rats, mice and pigeons feasting on seeds and nuts put out for wild birds.
NPTA survey co-ordinator Barrie Sheard, said: "Our 2008/9 survey underlines over-feeding of wild birds, neglect in public sewers, poorly managed domestic waste and poor compost bin security as the main factors responsible for the increasing control challenge seen by the overwhelming majority of pest control professionals over the past 10 years. "Three of these factors directly encourage rat and mouse populations to increase by making food readily available.
"So, when combined with today's far more reactive and piecemeal approach to control, it really isn't surprising our country continues to be unable to keep on top of rodent problems."
According to the 10th annual survey, which received responses from more than three quarters (76 per cent) of the 397 local authorities in the UK, there were around 600,000 council-organised pest treatments last year.
The figure is lower than the previous year's record of 650,000, but it was the same as the first survey 10 years ago, the NPTA said.
London was bucking the general trend in falling numbers of rat treatments, with a 38 per cent increase in the number of bids to stamp out infestations.
The organisation raised concerns about the withdrawal of free treatments by councils and surges in mouse and rat infestations in the absence of co-ordinated, regular and repeated treatment and a lack of awareness among people about what is causing the problem.
A Defra spokesman said: "The Government is not forcing local authorities to get rid of weekly bin collections.