US Politics | I found a rat as big as a dog in my back garden after rodents infested my house

A RETIRED pub boss plagued by rats in his garden caught one as big as a small dog. Derek Blamire, 82, sets traps to snare the vermin, which keep invading from open land nearby to feast on his bird feed. Kennedy NewsDerek got wife Sylvia to take a snap of the kingsized beast as he held it up for the camera '/ ' Kennedy NewsDerek has caught 50 rats in recent years '/ ' Kennedy NewsThe rat entered Derek's garden from nearby free land and would raid his bird feeder '/ ' He got wife Sylvia, 80, to take a snap of the dead border terrier-sized rat as he held it up with a litter picker. Great-grandad Derek said "From nose to tail, it was about 18 inches long. ...It was the length of a small baby." Sylvia added: "It scared me to death." He has caught 50 rats in recent years. Some have learned to avoid the baited traps so often Derek, of Blackburn, leaves his bird feeders empty to make the rodents hungrier and lure them in. He said: "If they keep coming, I'll keep catching them. ...I'm not going to give up." Most read in The US Sun 'LACK OF CARE' Veteran's family slams cops who 'let Master of Disguise boyfriend escape' CRUCIAL BREAKTHROUGH First pic of man arrested in connection with Delphi murders revealed KNIFE HORROR Tragic details emerge after dad and daughter killed in horror Kohl's stabbing PAT HITS BACK Wheel of Fortune's Pat corrects player after she shares controversial opinion NOT THEIR BEST Today fans cringe after guest acts 'irritated' with Hoda & Jenna on live TV FINAL SMILE Chilling final pics of husband with wife moments before he pushed her off cliff