Running amok: Film shows rat terrorising subway passengers as city official warns vermin scare tourists away [VIDEO]

The rat problem is so bad that it is threatening public health and driving tourists from the city, claimed Manhattan Borough president Scott Stringer.

'They don't want to come here and share their vacation with a New York City rat,' he said.

He demanded $1.5million in 'rat control' be restored to the city's Health Department budget.

The cut, he said, had forced the layoff of 57 pest control workers. That resulted in a spike of 1.5 per cent in complaints over the last year and damage to New York's appeal as a tourist destination.

And, he said, the rampaging rodents are also a threat to public safety.

'I find this to be unacceptable because rodents are very dangerous to children and the quality of life of the city,' Stringer said.

He said the cut 'makes no sense' as the city's pest control programme was collecting around $6million in fines each year from building owners for pest-related health violations.