George True had the fright of his life when he answered a late night call of nature - and discovered a rat trying to climb out of his toilet.

The 10in rodent appeared to have climbed up through the pipes to Mr True's third-floor flat in Hove.

Mr True's wife Lucy, 50, became so hysterical he had to call an emergency doctor who sedated her.

Mr True, 63, said: "It was like something out of a horror movie. It was about 10.30pm and I went to the toilet and there was a live rat there trying to jump out of it."

The retired naval petty officer phoned Brighton and Hove Council immediately after making the discovery on Friday but was told no one could come to remove the rat until Monday.

So he decided to get rid of the rat himself by pouring boiling water over it.

He said: "There was nothing else I could do. I didn't want the rat climbing out of the toilet and getting into the flat and I can't afford for some private plumber or pest control person to come out and remove it."

Mr True then checked his flat thoroughly, fearing there could be other rats. But his wife was still so terrified she struggled to sleep even after taking Valium.

Mrs True said: "I just screamed and screamed and screamed, the rat was so big. I freaked out. I just couldn't cope.

"Thank God the doctor came out. I wouldn't wish this on anyone."

The following day Mr True called the council again and was told to call a plumber himself.

He said: "It's a health hazard. I can't go to the toilet here - it's contaminated.

"I don't know how the rat got up there. The flat is very clean so it's not come in here because it's dirty. I suppose it could be because of the flooding, it might mean the sewers are overflowing.

"The sewers must be rife with rats. I don't want to worry people, but they do need to be warned about this sort of thing."

The Trues have lived in their home for 11 years and have never had any previous problems with their property.

But after the rat incident they are now thinking about applying for a transfer.