COUNCILLORS are warning people not to leave their old pumpkins in outdoor spaces for fear they may cause a rat infestation.

Weymouth Town Council is urging residents to dispose of pumpkins sensibly after Halloween instead of leaving them in council-run parks and open spaces in an attempt to feed wild animals.

The council has warned that leaving pumpkins out has caused rat infestations in the past, and makes hedgehogs unwell.

A spokesman for Weymouth Town Council said: "Around this time of year we start to see a number of discarded pumpkins in our parks and open spaces due to social media posts which encourage people to leave them out for wild animals.

"However, we request that you please do not leave pumpkins in our parks and open spaces.

"This is due to discarded pumpkins causing rat infestations in the past. Pumpkins may also cause hedgehogs to have upset stomachs.

"Instead, please either compost used pumpkins or put them in your food waste bin."