Leamington Spa's fly invasion is so bad they're 'crawling over babies in cots'

Kevin Shanahan in Whitnash,Leamington Spa,Warwickshire. The area has suffered an ongoing problem with excessive amounts of flies. (Picture: Joseph Walshe / SWNS)

A plague of flies has laid siege to a Leamington Spa,transforming the town into a frontline in an unexpected war.

Residents of the Warwickshire settlement say they are prisoners in their own home,unable to eat,breathe or sleep freely.

The problem first started three years ago when a new recycling plant opened nearby.

Ever since,they have had to get battle-ready towards the end of each spring in a bid to protect their homes.

Foster mum and grandmother-of-six Maureen Kerr,64,described the defences she has had to employ,including nets over cots and hide dummies and bottles.

Sign up for all of the latest stories

Start your day informed with Metro's News Updates newsletter or get Breaking News alerts the moment it happens.She told Metro: ‘It’s really difficult to try and keep the flies out,we can’t open the doors. When they come in,obviously,they’re everywhere.‘They go on your food everything. And they always make a beeline for the baby’s face.’In parliament,local MP Matt Western has warned that the town is facing a public health risk.Maureen Kerr said she was forced to drape nets over her foster children to prevent them from coming in contact with the flies. (Picture: Maureen Kerr)Flies in Maureen Kerr’s home in Whitnash,Leamington Spa. (Picture: Joseph Walshe / SWNS)He asked fellow MPs if any of them would be happy with their families living among the swarms and with ‘utterly unbearable’ smell.Richard Manly,37,a welder from the town,said: ‘It’s been nightmarish really,these flies have left people gagging and choking,even kids and babies in their cots and beds.‘Drivers and cyclists have been sick getting a mouthful while going down the street. It’s a crazy situation and we can’t believe it’s been allowed to go on.’The smell is so bad that even retired cleaning company owner Robert Horely,69,said it took his breath away when he left his house.He said: ‘We have fly strips hanging down that are covered,you can’t see a space on them,it’s that bad.‘They come in and get everywhere. People have been struggling to sleep as there’s flies crawling all over you.’The Environment Agency has visited the recycling plant four times since the beginning of April and identified a minor breach of their permit.Amcor,which runs it,said: ‘We are working hard to continually improve our operations.‘The Leamington Spa site is fully compliant with the Environmental Agency’s (EA) standards and we are working closely with the EA as they conduct regular inspections.’