A COTSWOLD pub has reopened after an infestation of rats forced it close for a fortnight.

David Beck, the new manager of the Mason Arms in Meysey Hampton, had only been in charge for two days when hundreds of rats, driven from a nearby farm due to the recent wet weather, descended on the village.

Mr Beck contacted Cotswold District Council environmental health officers and voluntarily shut down the pub while the problem was sorted out.

He said: "As soon as we realised we acted to do something about it and immediately, voluntarily closed.

"The whole of the village has had an infestation and they have been foraging around the houses. As we are a restaurant we they made a beeline for us."

"We have now eradicated the problem to the satisfaction of the environmental health officers.

"We also took the opportunity while we were closed to redesign the kitchen and to refurbish it."

The pub reopened on Friday, September 19 after the inspectors deemed it had been brought up to scratch A CDC spokesman confirmed: "The owners of the Mason Arms have carried out a lot of work at the premises, and our officers have revisited the premises and been satisfied with conditions there."