EastEnders deny reports they have suffered a ‘rat infestation which has  destroyed props and caused a headache’ at BBC soap’s £87million set

EastEnders have denied claims Albert Square has been infested with rats. 

It was reported rodents have been destroying props and pooing at the soap’s new £87million set. 

Pest control were called in after vermin started nesting in the EastEnders prop room floor at the BBC Elstree Centre in Hertfordshire, according to The Sun. 

A source told the publication: ‘EastEnders has always tried to represent London and that’s become a little too true with an outbreak of rats.

‘No one wants to see rodents at work and they have been causing a headache by chewing props and leaving droppings everywhere.

Pest control were called in after vermin started nesting in the EastEnders prop room floor at the BBC Elstree Centre in Hertfordshire [pictured stpck image]

‘It’s pretty gross. Thankfully none have made it into the Queen Vic — yet.’

An EastEnders spokeswoman said: ‘There is no rat infestation at EastEnders but on the odd occasion, if we have suspected an unauthorised visit from a furry visitor, we have called in the specialists.’ 

Traps and toxic repellents were said to have been laid by pest control and a report stated: ‘Attended site for call-out due to reported rat activity in the EastEnders prop store mezzanine floor.

‘A thorough visual inspection was carried out showing chewed products/nesting material.’

The new set opened in 2022 – four years later and £27million more than originally intended.

Last summer, it was reported that the BBC planned to transform the old set into a shipping container area to support filming in plans to expand Walford. 

Despite the fact that the soap opera had only intended to use the original set for two years, it was the home of EastEnders for an impressive 37 years of filming. 

The flash featured a new Queen Vic pub and Albert Square all built in a near-identical setup.

Traps and toxic repellents have been laid by pest control and a report stated: ‘Attended site for call-out due to reported rat activity in the EastEnders prop store mezzanine floor’ – pictured Yolande

The £87million set was completed in 2022 after five years of work hampered by the coronavirus pandemic and backlash over soaring costs 

The £87million set was completed in 2022 after five years of work hampered by the coronavirus pandemic and backlash over soaring costs – with the project originally intended for completion in August 2018.

Earlier this year, it was claimed that bosses had huge multi-million pound plans to expand their set with a new backlot.

The new development forms part of BBC’s £87 million budget set out in 2018, which was part of an investment in the wider BBC Elstree Centre site.

At the time the broadcaster was accused of ‘outrageously overspending’ licence fee cash. 

It was £27million over the original budget – and the project was expected to be nearly five years late.

The BBC was accused of ‘complacency’ over the astonishing £87million bill for its new EastEnders set in March 2020.