CUSTOMERS were left shocked after rats were spotted scurrying around at a pub.

The Walnut Tree Farm in Nursling is being monitored by Test Valley Borough Council following the visitors’ unexpected surprise when two rodents were seen in the pub and carvery’s grounds walking around the outdoor seating tables.

David Smith, from Winchester, said his friend spotted the rats in the conservatory.

He said: “At lunchtime my friend went and told staff of the pub, and they didn’t seem bothered about it at all. They were very calm about the whole situation.

“It is absolutely disgusting and should be closed down and sorted out - it is putting people’s health at risk.”

The 29-year-old added: “Working in kitchens myself, I know what the food and kitchen standard should be like and they clearly do not.”

Another visitor of the Greene King pub, Rebecca Spacagna, saw the rats as she went in for breakfast.

Rebecca said: “We went out to the conservatory and there were two rats running around where the kids sit.

“We told staff members and they laughed.

“We just thought, 'Wow'.”

The 36-year-old, who works in catering, said they will not be returning and more rat traps need to be sorted.

A Test Valley Borough Council spokesperson said: “We had two reports of rats at the pub, so we went down there on January 23 to carry out a thorough inspection.

"Although we did not find any rats, we will continue monitoring the pub.

“I have not heard any reports of rats physically inside the pub – just the ‘summer house’ after potentially someone left a door open.”

A spokesperson for Walnut Tree Farm said: “We take our cleanliness and hygiene standards extremely seriously and once we become aware of this issue, we took immediate remedial action.

"We have the environmental health officer’s confidence that there is no evidence of pests inside the building.

"[The rat] was not in the main building or kitchen, it was in the grounds where the outdoor seating area is situated.”

The pub in Adanac Drive, Nursling received a 5 out of 5 hygiene rating in their November 2018 inspection.