Hamelin needs new Pied Piper

The German town of Hamelin is in need of another Pied Piper after a fresh infestation of rats.

According to the fairy tale, the Pied Piper of Hamelin lured rats away from the town to their death in the River Weser with his magic pipe.

Town council spokesman Thomas Wahmes said the town was now suffering from a new rodent problem.

A growing legion of rats had "chewed through electricity cables" knocking out the fountain outside of the town's railway station, he said.

The rats' fondness for gnawing on cables had also led to occasional problems with traffic lights near the fountain.

Ironically, the tourists who visit the town because of the legend have contributed to the latest problem.

Gunter Loschner, Hamelin's official rat catcher, told the local Deister und Weser Zeitung newspaper: "The human factor plays a big role.

"Visitors sit around the fountain and throw bread to feed the birds. At night the rats come out and take any leftovers. They dive into the cable ducts because they can eat undisturbed."