
'Evri dumped my parcel in the middle of the night'
Nigel Thomas, 64, told the BBC he and his wife had been waiting for a delivery due to arrive on Saturday morning, but did not receive a notification until 01:35 BST on Sunday. "The picture that we were sent showed it in the bushes, but when my wife and I walked around the whole street looking for this particular bush, we couldn't find it," he said. "I thought I'd have another look and I actually found it buried in the bushes, not where the picture said it was."
The BBC understands that the area's usual Evri courier, who Mr Thomas described as "pretty good", is currently away and did not carry out the deliveries in question. Speaking with other delivery drivers in the area, Mr Thomas, said he had heard: "They've got a lot of deliveries to do.""They probably have got too many to do," he added.
A spokesperson for Evri told the BBC: "Every parcel matters to us and we are sorry to those customers affected by this service, which does not reflect our usual high standard of service in the area." Concerned customers, they said, could contact the company's customer service team.
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The Independent
11 minutes ago
- The Independent
Mapped: Worst areas for rat infestations in the UK as over half a million reported
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He said: 'Urban density is one of the biggest drivers, as is the case in London, which has a complex underground network of drains and older infrastructure that rats can easily exploit. More people also equals more food waste, bin storage, and ample conditions for rats and rodents to thrive. 'Aside from just populated cities, some regions with higher infestation numbers, like parts of the north west or Scotland, also have large numbers of aging buildings with outdated drainage systems. Once cracks or disused pipes appear, rats only need the smallest access points, and they will then follow the scent of food and warmth straight into homes and the inside of commercial spaces. 'It could also be argued that the regional variations in rat infestations could be down to warmer, wetter weather patterns in certain parts of the UK. Milder seasons mean rats are breeding for longer periods of the year, pushing up numbers. 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The giant animal, which measured 22 inches long, was found in the Normanby area of Redcar and Cleveland after a resident called in exterminators. Writing in The Independent, veteran catcher David Parnell admitted that even he was taken aback when he saw images of the rodent, described as 'almost the size of a small cat' by councillors. However, he warned Britons to brace themselves for a worsening vermin problem, saying: 'It's not just a one-off – the rats are getting bigger, bolder and harder to deal with. 'What used to be a couple of callouts a month for rats inside homes has now surged to eight to 10 a week. The vast majority of these infestations trace back to our neglected drainage systems.' Drain Detectives explained that rats often exploit damaged or aging drainage systems to gain access to buildings, especially via unsealed joints, disused pipework, or toilet backflow in properties lacking rat blockers. 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Among the health hazards associated with the rodents is leptospirosis (Weil's Disease) – a potentially fatal bacterial infection, primarily spread through the urine of infected animals, especially rats – and the deadly hantavirus, which can be caught from breathing in rats' contaminated waste particles. Others include salmonella, which is spread via contaminated food, and allergies triggered by rat dander and urine. Mr McGinn said prevention starts below the ground and is urging UK homeowners and property managers to take proactive steps. 'If you're hearing scratching in the walls or noticing unexplained smells, don't ignore it,' he advised.


BBC News
11 minutes ago
- BBC News
Future of 800 year-old Brigg horse fair remains unclear
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BBC News
an hour ago
- BBC News
Monksfield Hexham children's respite closure 'devastating'
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