A pub in the UK had to shut for 30 minutes after a rat ran up a customer’s leg and stole a chip from his hand.

The Albany Palace pub – which is a part of the JD Wetherspoons chain, in Trowbridge in England – was shut so pest control could come in after the staff learned of the problem.

The victim, Reece Coombs, told the BBC the “sewer rat-sized” animal ran up his leg and stole a chip directly from his hand.

JD Wetherspoons confirmed to the BBC that two rodents were seen on the premises but the issue was now “under control.”

Mr Coombs told the BBC that he was eating dinner with his girlfriend when he felt what he thought was a kick on his leg.

"It felt like somebody had kicked me, then a rat ran up my leg and took the chip out of my hand and bolted," he said.

"I thought, 'that rat has some serious confidence'.

"I didn't know whether to laugh or cry. I can't stand rats and you never expect that kind of thing in a restaurant."

Staff immediately cleared the pub when they learned of the incident, with customers left confused by the sudden evacuation.

Wetherspoons say the company "was aware that a rat took a chip which had fallen on the floor from a customer's meal" but couldn’t confirm if the animal had run up the customer’s leg.

"We are not sure how the rats came into the pub, however there has been some fly tipping in the alley at the rear of the pub and this might have been a factor," he added,” a spokesperson said.

"We aim to uphold the highest standards in our pubs at all times and apologise to customers for this situation."