A mum has been forced to flee her home after it was overrun by rats and move into a homeless unit.
Susan Cardno, originally from Govan but now living in Paisley, says the rat infestation at her home is that bad it is making her "physically ill".
The 42-year-old claims to have been back and forth with Renfrewshire Council after the invasion of rats became unbearable. The council followed up with visits from pest control, however, the problem "only got worse".
Susan's 16-year-old daughter is currently living with her dad while the issue is resolved with the mum now seeking shelter at the homeless unit in Paisley.
READ MORE: Glasgow Airport chaos as flights delayed and diverted amid 'shortage of air traffic controllers'
Speaking to Glasgow Live, Susan described the torment she has endured.
She said: "I noticed it when I moved in over a year and a half ago, I looked out my back window and there were about 12 rats scurrying around the bin. I was only new so didn't know they were inside the building too.
"About six months later I found a dead one on my kitchen floor - I was hearing noises for a while but I just thought I was hearing things.
"I phoned the council the next morning and they came out with the rat poison again, everything was alright for another maybe two months until I looked out my front window and there were rats trying to get into the bins, about 12 of them."
Susan lives in a ground-floor flat, which causes her more concern: "Around two weeks ago we started hearing noises again. My daughter was walking through the house when she saw a rat in the kitchen - it really set me off, my panic attacks are really bad and this is only making it worse."
The pair decided to set up a camera in the kitchen to catch the rat in action, they discovered the rodent was gaining access from a hole behind her cooker.
Susan continued: "I phoned the council again and they said all they could do was put the rat poison down - I can't keep living like this."
The rat poison was placed in the kitchen and bathroom where holes in the walls were visible.
Susan explained she is constantly worried and "looking over her shoulder". She suffers from bipolar disorder which she feels has only worsened with the stress of her living situation.
The 42-year-old claims to have contacted the council again after the poison failed to work however, says she was told they could not fix the holes on that particular day.
The rats had nibbled through the walls and cupboards in all of the rooms in Susan's home, including her teenage daughter's bedroom which for her was the last straw.
She added: "I had to beg the homeless unit to keep me up. The council are helping me stay here now which I am grateful for but I just want to be home and not have to worry about this, it's awful.
"They're chewing through my whole house, I'm so unsettled and I physically can't do it anymore - my anxiety is overwhelming and I am crying constantly. I am under a lot of stress."
Susan finished by saying: "It's making me ill, I just want to feel safe and secure and know there are no rats in my flat, it's all I want."
A Renfrewshire Council spokesperson said: "We are working closely with the resident to resolve the issue she is having and pest control measures have been carried out at the property.
"Officers are carrying out an inspection to identify any further work required to prevent the issue reoccurring and we'll continue to support the tenant while this takes place."
READ NEXT:
Glasgow man stabbed twice in the chest by knife wielding chef on city centre street
Glasgow construction worker used Instagram to stalk frightened woman he met at gym
