Rats halt lights at Marble Arch

Traffic light control boxes offer rats a warm and dry environment

Traffic lights at one of London's busiest junctions have gone out after rats chewed through power cables.

The Marble Arch lights, where Oxford Street, Edgware road, Bayswater Road and Park Lane meet, went out on Sunday.

Transport for London (TfL) said pest controllers from Rentokil were removing the rats but it could take five days.

Engineers cannot repair the lights until the rodents have been removed due to risk of disease. Temporary lights are in place.

The permanent lights work on an intelligence system and change according to traffic.

TfL said the temporary lights would be on a set timer so there may be delays for motorists.

Traffic light control boxes are an ideal environment for rats as they are warm and dry.