Sewer rats have invaded Muswell Hill to the disgust of nearby residents.

The filthy vermin have been spotted repeatedly in Dukes Avenue and traders along the Broadway and as far as Fortis Green Road.

It is believed that rats are crawling from the sewers through broken drains or pipes.

And the problem has escalated to such an extent Haringey Council are now sending in a team of pest controllers to help combat the infestation.

Council officers are also set to meet with officials from Thames Water to ask the company to lay bait in drains across the area.

Councillor Nilgun Canver, cabinet member for enforcement and safer communities, said: "We are determined to get to the bottom of this problem and try to nip it in the bud.

"Thames Water will work with us and together we should be able to tackle any infestation and hopefully put preventative measures in place too.

"It may be that we are talking about one broken drain pipe which is allowing rats to escape and come looking for easy access to food. If so, we should be able to deal with the matter swiftly.

"However, it is important that we look at long term measures and remind residents and businesses to dispose of waste responsibly."

Muswell Hill Broadway is home to a string of pubs and restaurants making it a prime location for the rats to find food.

But the rats have also been spotted in the car park and playground of the Hornsey Trust - a charity and education centre for children with cerebral palsy.

Councillor Martin Newton, Liberal Democrat Environment spokesman said:"It is totally unacceptable, that the Council has allowed this problem to fester for so long, rendering local gardens unusable and children at risk when out at play.

"I have demanded immediate action to find the location of the infestation and deal with it. Possible food sources need to be identified and enforcement used to eliminate them."

Residents have also been advised to be careful about placing leftover food in exposed places and to raise the alarm when more rats are spotted to help establish how far they have spread.