Britain's super rats are now invincible
Invincible: Some town rats are 100% resistant to over-the-counter poisons (Picture: AP)

Rats across the country have now evolved to become resistant to common poisons, according to new evidence.

Researchers at the University of Huddersfield have found that in some areas rats had developed a 100% resistance to over-the-counter poisons.

Rats have long had a reputation for spreading disease, damaging homes and getting at food supplies.

But tests carried out at the university have shown that the rodents have developed a mutation that allows them to survive poisons such as Bromadiolone and Difenacoum.

‘We’re using the same group of chemicals over and over again, resistance will build up, so the UK, but also many other parts of the world, are suffering from this phenomenon of resistance development,’ explained Steven Belmain PHD, Professor Ecology at the University of Greenwich.

Britain's super rats are now invincible
‘People should be concerned’: Experts warn that rats carry disease and damage buildings (Picture: Donyanedomam)

Stronger poisons are available and could kill the rats but they require a licence to use outdoors and are potentially damaging to other forms of wildlife and domestic pets.

Dr Dougie Clarke at the University of Huddersfield stressed the importance of controlling the rat population.

‘I think people should be concerned about these rats and these resistant rats because of public health concerns.

‘They carry disease and various other bacteria and viruses – and they also damage buildings and they also eat grains and storage and agriculture.

‘They cost billions of pounds of damage worldwide.’