Squirrels, maggots, mushroom and silverfish infestations are plaguing a Kingston University accommodation site, according to students.

Students who live in the Clayhill building in Burney Avenue claim that squirrels are regularly invading flats to steal food, and that this week some residents were evacuated for fumigation to take place after months of complaining about silverfish.

The cost of renting one of the 700 rooms at the campus next to the Seething Wells building is £133.75 a week, and students have complained they are having to remove severe mould themselves.

Eric Brain, 19, a first year journalism student who lives in Clayhill said: “Mould is something I’ve spent a lot of money dealing with.

"People have come back from holiday and found mushrooms growing out of their skirting. The university won’t deal with anything unless it’s a fire hazard.

“There are numerous problems with squirrels. If you have a window open when you’re cooking and leave the room for a second a squirrel will come in and try and take your food.

"Recently one got in and took a steak I was cooking. When I came back in the kitchen everything was all over the floor.”

Mr Brain also claimed the university is uninterested in the complaints because most of the residents are freshers and will move into private accommodation at the end of the academic year.

He said: “I’m going to go home in May and move into a private house for my second year.

"I have sort of stopped complaining because I’m not going to be here much longer.”

Miss McBain, 24, lived in Clayhill during her first year at Kingston University four years ago and said that the problems existed then.

She said: “Silverfish were everywhere. Because they don’t like light when you walk into a room and switch the light on you see them all scatter."

A Kingston University spokeswoman said it does not keep a record of the numbers of complaints received.

She said: “The university takes the comfort, health and safety of its students very seriously.

“All of the university’s halls of residence are located in green areas close to wildlife.

"For this reason we ask students to bag rubbish carefully, keep bin areas and kitchens clean, ensure food is locked in cupboards and that windows are kept closed.

“In the past there have been occasions when students have notified hall management of problems with mildew.

“Silverfish are found from time to time in Kingston’s halls of residence.

"When they are reported, they are dealt with quickly by a pest control company.”