IN response to your article on January 3, about the rat population in Swindon, I would disagree with what Gavin Calthrop (spokesman for Swindon Council) says.

I quite often catch a number 17 bus from town, opposite the Zurich building in Fleming Way, late at night and the rats and smell there is awful.

The rats can be seen running about on the pavement and in the bushes.

They can be seen sometimes in daylight as well.

Something should be done about this health hazzard as soon as possible.

H THOMPSON

Swindon