At the start of January The Independent published an article shaming leading UK garden and DIY retailers for “promoting poisons” that it said “cause huge suffering and kill owls”.

Rats outnumber people two to one for the first time ever as lockdown triggers a surge in population. The UK rat population is reckoned to exceed 150 million, more than twice the number of humans (68 million), say professional pest control operators www.pest.co.uk.

Continued over-the-phone and online support of its products by pest control specialist STV has been welcomed by home-users since the start of lockdown, with incoming call-rates and emails exceeding 100 a day and rising.

Our pest control products, in particular The Big Cheese rodent control and Zero In household insect control, are especially important to ensure the protection of public health, and particularly so while the lockdown remains in force.

STV has re-launched its consumer website, offering customers a comprehensive array of tools and product support.