Wildlife experts have said reports of a colony of giant rats need to be investigated after a huge rodent was shot dead on a West Yorkshire housing estate.
<!-- VIDEO PLAYER START --> <!---->
Giant rat was shot dead in Bradford
<!---->
The culled super rat measured 30in (2.5ft) - making it as big as a bulldog - and twice the size of a normal rat.
Experts believe it could be a descendent of the coypu species, a large South American rodent not seen in Britain for two decades.
Brandon Goddard, 31, who shot the rat, said voluminous vermin have been invading homes on the Ravenscliffe estate in Bradford.
<cut></cut>
<!---->
The one I shot was absolutely terrifying. I was shaking. Goodness knows where the others went. I'm glad I don't live there.
<cite> Brandon Goddard
</cite>
<!---->
He saw four others of the same size as he fired on the group with an air rifle.
Mr Goddard told The Sun: "They were more like Ratzillas than rats.
"I got out of there as fast as I could. Who knows how many there will be if they've been breeding?"
Brandon, a manager at a cleaning firm, said: "The first went right past, but we got the second one. Then three more got away.
<cut></cut>
<!---->
Coypu rats are native to South America. Photo: J. Patrick Fischer.
<!---->
"I've seen thousands of rats during the course of my work and go shooting a couple of times a week. But I've never seen any as big as this.
"The one I shot was absolutely terrifying. I was shaking. Goodness knows where the others went. I'm glad I don't live there."
People living on the Ravenscliffe estate said large rats often invade their homes and council officials have been called out to eradicate the problem.
