Tonight: 28/03/2024

Rats, mice, cockroaches and bedbugs - these and other pests are wreaking havoc on homes and businesses across the UK. And, in recent years, vermin infestations have spiked - with an average of more than 800 pest control callouts every day. With the spread of poison-resistant rodents and a cost-of-living squeeze that has seen both councils and households struggling to control outbreaks, infestations are placing a terrible toll on people's mental and physical health. Meeting those whose lives have been upturned by infestations and the professionals trying to stop them, Geraint Vincent asks whether Britain's pest problem is at risk of spiralling out of control