TWO Kingswood neighbourhoods are being terrorised by pests, residents claim.

A pregnant woman was bitten by a rat in Derrick Road and two cats have been killed by foxes in Collingwood Avenue.

Residents first noticed rats running across Derrick Road about two weeks ago.

Since then seven rats have been found dead on the street and about 16 have been spotted in back gardens and running around in the road.

Nurse Samantha House, 30, has been left concerned after she was bitten on the finger by one of the rodents when her cat brought it in from the back garden.

"I was moving furniture around trying to find it and after it had run past the cat twice I tried to catch it and was bitten on my finger," she said. "I'm worried because I am five months pregnant – I went to see my GP, who said the way I treated it was fine.

"At first I thought it was a mouse that had bitten me but now I know it was a rat I'm not sure if I need to return in case I need further treatment."

Neighbour Carol Gill, 42, who has lived in the street for seven years, said one rat ran through her back garden while her 17-year-old daughter Paige was sitting outside.

"It's horrible to think the rats are around," she said.

"You can't relax when you know one might be near."

Other residents reported the problem to South Gloucestershire Council, which sent a member of their Street Care team. But residents are unhappy about how the issue was dealt with.

According to Mrs Gill residents were asked to try to find the source of the rats themselves

"We expected a proper pest controller would be sent who would sort out the problem," she said.

Meanwhile Michelle Williams, who lives in Collingwood Avenue, wants to warn people about letting their children and pets outside after she says two cats were killed by foxes.

Ms Williams, 32, is worried about her young children being attacked as well as her six-month-old kittens.

She said: "We live in a very quiet cul-de-sac and the sound does echo. We had two cases of cats being killed by foxes in the space of a week.

"They make awful noises in the night and are becoming more and more fearless."

Ms Williams, who has a seven-year-old and a two-year-old, two kittens and a rabbit, said she is worried about letting her children or animals into the garden.

She said: "I'm becoming scared to let the children outside and I'm worried about other people who have cats and small animals."

Ms Williams said she has tried contacting the council but it cannot help her.

She has also phoned an organisation which specialises in moving the animals on but they have told her a call-out fee is £400.

A spokesman for The Fox Website said that attacks on humans and pets were very rare.

A South Gloucestershire Council spokesperson said: "A member of the public contacted the council around two weeks ago regarding seeing rats in the Derrick Road area. An officer went to investigate but did not see any rats during this visit. No further reports have been received since this visit was made but the council will continue to monitor the situation."