RATS feasting on rotting rubbish have led to increased demands for CCTV in a town centre.

The rise in the incidents of food and litter being dropped in Johnstone town centre has led to the call for action in a bid to stop people carelessly discarding waste.

Renfrewshire Councillor Andy Doig, who represents Johnstone, called for cameras in Ludovic Square just a week after the Evening Times revealed demands for similar measures in nearby Houston Square, after the attempted abduction of a woman.

Councillor Doig said: "The original call for CCTV was due to Houston Square attack.

"The new need for CCTV in Ludovic Square, which is behind Houston Square, is down to anti social behaviour by people who are littering with food packaging and attracting rats.

"If Ludovic Square had CCTV the police could identify them and alleviate the problem. The council has said it will release the extra CCTV money, but there was no timescale attached. That's something I am calling for."

In response to the demands, Jim Harte, Renfrewshire Council's environment convener said residents need to cut off the food supply to the town's rat population. He said: "Brown rats are like any other animal. They raise their young where there are easy pickings.

"And they will eat anything, including dog faeces. Rats live cheek by jowl with humans because we feed them. Irresponsible dog owners don't clean up after their pets; people throw their left-over lunch out of cars and bird lovers deliberately spread crusts and crumbs.

"This kind of behaviour makes it much harder for us to tackle rats.

"Over the past two months our pest control officer has been laying bait in Ludovic Square. The Renfrewshire Wardens Service has also been carrying out regular patrols in the area.

"This is not an issue about CCTV. This is an issue about people behaving responsibly.

"If people want to see the back of the rat population they need to cut off its food supply.

"Plans are in place to revise Johnstone's CCTV system to deter crime and increase people's sense of safety.

"In the meantime, good citizenship and good council services will drive any rats away."

ewan.fergus@eveningtimes.co.uk