A huge rat has been spotted in the window of the former Debenhams in Romford, sparking mixed reactions.

Eric Willson posted footage of the rat on Facebook last week (June 18) trapped between the store's shutters and the shop window.

When contacted, Aklu Miah, who previously bought the Debenhams and turned it into Aklu Plaza shopping centre, did not wish to comment but said the matter was being looked into by management.

One commenter on Facebook expressed her surprise at how big the rat was.

"The size of this thing," said Katie Fisher from Colchester, Essex.

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Others empathised with the rat and urged people to let it out.

"Poor little fella," said James Collingwood. "They're not pests or vermin. They're living beings.

"Look at its cute little face."

Mr Miah took over the store in 2021 following the closure of Debenhams in May that year.

The third floor of the centre was given the green light to become an events and banqueting suite earlier this year.