Village of Midgham invaded by midges and residents are not impressed

The two villages have been swarmed (Picture: SWNS/BBC Radio Berkshire)

Residents of two small villages in Berkshire have been invaded by clouds of insects.

People in Midgham and nearby Woolhampton are suffering as huge swarms of midges plague their homes – and they say the situation is the worst they’ve ever seen.

The swarming bugs are settling on cars, buildings and even people, filling homes if residents dare to open a door while a light is on indoors.

While many are seeing the funny side of a village called Midgham being swarmed by midges, the 350-strong population is not laughing.

Midgham and Woolhampton, which has a population of about 600 people, both sit on the flood plain of the River Kennet.

Midges lay their eggs in water or wet soil, which is why they’re out in force in the two villages at the moment.

The bugs have been swarming through the village (Picture: BBC Radio Berkshire)

The increase has been blamed on the mild winter (Picture: Tony Kershaw/SWNS)

Even the village sign is covered in bugs (Picture: Tony Kershaw/SWNS)

One resident said: ‘I had hundreds come into my house last night after stupidly opening the door with the light on. I had to hoover my walls and ceilings.’

Incredible footage from the BBC shows thick clouds of the bugs swarming around the Berkshire villages.

Another resident said: ‘There’s an increase in midges, mainly, I think, because it’s a very mild winter so the hatches are starting earlier than normal.

‘If it was a hard winter I don’t think you’d see any of them.’

While a third commented: ‘They’re just everywhere. They seem to be so much worse and I don’t know where they’re coming from.

‘Particularly down by the river, and I live just a couple of roads up, they just seem everywhere at the moment.

‘You can’t even walk without swallowing a few.’

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