REPORTS of rats invading Ilkley streets are dropping after a blitz on the sewers to kill the pests with poisoned bait.

In the first six months of this year, Bradford Council's pest control service received 755 district -wide complaints from people saying they had seen rats, mainly in the city centre.

The rats, which can spread serious illnesses, including Weill's disease, are now breeding throughout the year instead of their previous spring and summer cycles.

Wildlife experts say the breeding patterns have changed because of the warmer winters which make it easier for the animals to survive.

The number of calls received by the council so far this year compares with 1,677 complaints during the whole of last year.

Last year Ilkley was identified as one of the rat 'hot spots' in the Bradford district because of the number of complaints.

Pest control manager Dennis Shipway told members of the environment scrutiny committee yesterday that an action plan agreed last year between the council and Yorkshire Water had already shown better results.

Previously Ilkley district councillor Anne Hawkesworth had blamed changes in the way Yorkshire Water treated sewers - baiting when there was a problem instead of regular dosing - for the increase in the town's rat population.

There was also a suggestion that composting bins in Ilkley gardens could be attracting the rodents.

In the past year Yorkshire Water has put poison bait in more than 34,200 inspection chambers in the sewage system - twice as many as in the previous year. The Yorkshire Water workers have concentrated on Denholme, Ilkley, Ben Rhydding, Horton Valley, Little Horton, Manchester Road, and the Bowling area.

Mr Shipway said there had been increased co-operation between the pest control service and Yorkshire Water.

Coun Hawkesworth, executive member of the environment, said: "I am pleased about the reduction. But we must not be complacent. We must continue to give this real priority."

Ilkley Parish Councillor Kate Brown said she had received no complaints about rats in Ilkley in the last few months and had not noticed any herself while walking around the town.

Previously she said she had spotted dead rats in the area of Mill Ghyll where the stream runs down to the junction of The Grove and Brook Street.