A skin-crawling video has emerged of a family of giant rats scuttling around the centre of a shopping centre car park.
The shocking scene was captured at St Andrew's Retail Park on Hessle Road in west Hull.
A shopper, who wishes not to be named, said the rodents didn't seem scared by people at all.
In the clip showing the anchor feature outside the retail park, at least six huge rats are seen running around behind the sculpture and chasing one after each other into the bush area.
One of the rodents rat can be seen measuring about the length of the tile on the floor.
The retail park is home to the likes of popular homeware shops B&M and Wilko, reported Hull Live.
The woman said: "I was really shocked to see so many rats running in out of the bushes and gathering around the fountain while out shopping.
"It is such a busy area and it was only early around 4.30pm but they didn't seem scared at all by people walking past either."
The video was taken just as it has been revealed mouse and rat infestations are on the rise in Hull.
There was a huge increase in the number of rodents spotted during the first coronavirus lockdown leading to fears of greater numbers being reported heading into winter.
Residents are being urged to look out for signs of infestations as they look to find their way to shelter as the weather takes a turn for the worse.
During the first lockdown, a huge rat "the size of a small dog" was spotted in a north Hull garden.
The large rodent appeared in a garden off Endike Lane amid warnings from experts that British homes could be exposed to hungry rats
looking for food following the closure of restaurants during lockdown.
In September, Hull residents living near a Hedon Road supermarket said they were "frightened" at the sight of a rat infestation near them.
Now a national trade body is urging householders and businesses in Hull to be on the look-out for signs of an infestation as rats and
mice head indoors for winter – an issue that could be made worse by lockdown and restrictions.
Natalie Bungay,a technical officer at British Pest Control Association, said: "As temperatures begin to drop and food becomes scarce, rats will begin looking for shelter and scraps in more urban locations.
"And as autumn and winter push on, rats start to head indoors. Rats and mice do not hibernate and are a problem all year round."
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