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Charges for treating pests including mice, cockroaches, ants, wasps and fleas were introduced in 1996 resulting in a 30 per cent drop in demand for the service provided by Manchester city Council.

Problems resurfaced in 2000 when the number of complaints of mice infestation leapt by 66 per cent, a report to the city's Physical Environment Scrutiny Committee reveals.

The rodent treatment trial is being funded through the Single Regeneration Budget and, if successful, will be adopted across the city.

Householders and property owners are legally responsible for keeping residential premises free from pests in the interests of public health.

Charges for removing pests range from ?38 to destroy fleas to ?58 to clear mice but the local authority will remove rats free of charge from domestic premises.

Agreements have been made with some housing associations to provide pest control services but environment officers say private landlords often fail to meet their responsibility to treat infestations.

Tougher enforcement action is being planned but officers say the cost of treatment is sometimes borne by tenants who cannot afford the charges when the landlord should cover the costs.