Flies have invaded a sleepy Leicester village and made life hell for inhabitants (Picture: Getty)
Fed-up residents say they have been left ‘trapped’ in their own homes after swarms of flies have invaded their village.
People in Leicester Park East say the insects have been making their lives hell for the past few years – but this summer has been the worst yet.
They are too scared to open their windows over fears of being inundated by thousands of bugs, which also crawl over them while they sleep, while families have been unable to let their children play outside and barbecues and parties have been moved indoors.
Frustrated locals blame a nearby recycling centre for the problem, combined with hot temperatures and a move to fortnightly bin collections.
They say the issue is making their lives miserable, with scores of dead insects collected in flytraps hanging from their ceilings.
Mum-of-two Gemma Clarke, 36, has lived in Maple Avenue for the last nine years and said her children had been left in tears and had their summer break ‘ruined’.
Gemma, who works part-time at a special needs school, said: ‘I’m swatting flies constantly. I dread cooking a meal and we can’t have any doors or windows open.
Mum-of-two Gemma Clarke says the flies have ruined summer (Picture: Joseph Walshe / SWNS)
‘The children cannot play, we cannot sit in the garden. We’ve not had a paddling pool this year.
‘Their summer has just been ruined. The kids hate it. They just end up crying.
‘You cannot socialise with your friends. You cannot even have a barbecue. We ended up having an indoor barbecue this summer. It’s just awful.
She added: ‘We’ve heard the Environment Agency have been carrying spot checks at the recycling centre but they’ve found they are not in breach.
‘But we’re still getting the issue and it’s reoccurring so what are we meant to do? We’re still getting this problem.
‘It’s been absolutely horrendous. We’re quite far away from the site but the impact around Leicester Forest East is horrendous.
‘Our summer holidays are ruined and the kids are forced to play miles from home. We can’t picnic up here. We can’t sit in our own park.
Locals have been fleeing the village in droves to escape the swarm (Picture: Joseph Walshe / SWNS)
‘There’s cafes you can’t sit in, we can’t use our chippy. Businesses are losing income because of it.
‘Nine properties are up for sale this year – and that’s just because of the flies.’
Another local Derek Johnson, 61, added: ‘This is the worst it’s ever been. I don’t know how they can expect us to live like this.
‘I buy a newspaper every day but end up using it as a swatting device and sitting indoors to read it instead.
‘It’s like being in a real-life, but miniature version, of The Birds. It’s got the point where I can’t wait for summer to be over.’
Gran-of-two Alison Smith, 61, says she is considering moving house as a result of the infestation.
She added: ‘The problem started a few years ago but each summer the issue gets worse and worse.
Gran-of-two Alison Smith, 61, says she is considering moving house as a result of the infestation (Picture: Joseph Walshe / SWNS)
‘The recycling place used to just take cardboard but then they started taking wet waste and then the flies began coming – and each year there’s more of them.
‘We’ve got to the point where we can’t even use our own gardens or cook in our own kitchens.
‘They are just everywhere. If you have a cup of tea outside you have to share it with two or three flies.
‘We have to sit eating dinner with these two fly trap spinner strips on either side of us. There’s a swatter in almost every room.
‘If you’ve got the chance to get out for the day, you’ll do just that to escape the flies. We should not have to do that.’
Recycling company Casepak told the BBC the company ‘always strived to be a responsible operator and a good neighbour’.
They added: ‘We are aware of wider environmental issues within the Leicester Forest East area, including the increased fly activity reported by residents.
Scores of fly-swatters litter the streets of the village (Credits: Joseph Walshe / SWNS)
‘At Casepak, we undertake extensive work around pest management.
‘Our pest control programme is managed and delivered by an internal environmental technician and our plan is reviewed every year by an external specialist and approved by the EA.
‘As a responsible operator, Casepak is open to facilitating engagement with local residents to address any concerns that they raise with us or fellow businesses on the Braunstone Frith Industrial Estate and attempt to minimise any impact of our work to the lowest level possible.’
A spokesperson for the Environment Agency said: ‘During the summer months, and while we continue to receive reports of flies in the area, our aim is to visit Casepak weekly to ensure the company is complying with its permit.
‘These are physical inspections of the waste and the premises, and the visits may be announced or unannounced.
‘If Casepak is found to be in breach of its permit, actions will be taken in order to bring them back into compliance.’
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