HOUSING officials have vowed to dispatch pest control experts to Gattonside after a tenant found a rat in his shower.

Residents along the village's Brewster Place have reported problems with the drains in recent years.

And last week 54-year-old Christopher Flanders discovered what is causing the blocks.

Mr Flanders, who suffers from diabetes and other heath conditions, was getting ready for a family function last Wednesday morning when he made the grim discovery.

His father, also Christopher, told us: "Chris pulled back the shower curtain and there was a fully-grown rat running around in the tray.

"The drain cover on the shower has been broken for some time and the rat must have squeezed through.

"There have been problems with the drains around Brewster Place for a few years and attempts have been made in the past to fix them - it must be the rats that are causing the damage somewhere in the system."

The incident was reported to Scottish Borders Housing Association on the Wednesday.

But an initial response from the maintenance department that it could take up to two weeks for any repairs angered Mr Flanders senior.

He added: "A rat bite could kill my son - he has medical conditions and this was explained to SBHA.

"All the man said on the other end of the phone was that vermin wasn't a priority and he put the phone down."

The Selkirk-based landlord did carry out repairs to the the shower tray two days later.

And bosses have also sent in a pest control team to eradicate the Brewster Place rats.

A spokeswoman told us: "SBHA are sorry to hear that Mr Flanders was unhappy with the response time to repair his shower.

"He contacted us on Wednesday to report the plug cover needed to be replaced and this was carried out two days later.

"SBHA also contacted pest control services who have been trying to reach the tenant to enable access to his home.”