RESIDENTS claim Network Rail's pest control team randomly laid rat poison near the back of their gardens without observing normal safety measures.

It began earlier this month, when the pest team responded to reports of a rat in Orchard Avenue, Poole, and showed up with a bucket of Contral Blox poison.

They were sent by Network Rail, which owns the embankment at the end of the gardens.

Neighbour Chris Watkins, chairman of the residents' association, says the two men were only in the garden for three minutes and made no attempt to climb over the fence on to the railway embankment.

He said: "They just took a scoop of poison and threw it over the fence.

"They refused to say what poison was used, refused to give proper identification, and flatly denied there would be any risk to wildlife."

Conservation consultant Doug Mills says it is the first time in 30 years in his work he has heard of rat poison being laid so carelessly.

"If it's true, this is very unsound practice, posing a great risk to moles, mice, hedgehogs, cats, dogs and the whole ecosystem. Rat tubes must be placed carefully to stop other animals being hurt."

Within three days, one sick blackbird had been spotted and another was found dead in a garden. A vet confirmed its injuries were internal.

Mr Watkins said: "We were extremely worried for our pets. There seemed to be fewer birds around, and food we left out was still there in the evening. So we organised a visit from Network Rail."

The company has confirmed that while this meeting took place in one of the houses, the pest control team went on to the embankment and removed any remaining traces of poison.

Network Rail say there is no evidence that poison was thrown indiscriminately, but added: "We recognise this misunderstanding could have been avoided if our communications with residents had been better."

The issue is now being investigated by the Health and Safety Inspectorate, RSPCA and the Borough of Poole.