Community plagued by flies

RESIDENTS of a town plagued by “swarms” of “unbearable” flies say they have had enough of not being able to enjoy sitting in their gardens, or open their windows without being inundated with pests.

- By LAUREN COLE-LOMAS

Businesses have been forced to shut, and parents are waking in the middle of the night to find their children having nightmares about the swarms.

Families in close proximity to the Staines Reservoirs in Stanwell are living out scenes of a dystopian novel, reporting being unable to leave their homes due to sheer number of the flies.

One mother, who has a neurodivergent child, has found school runs particularly difficult as her child feels so overwhelmed by the swarm.

The chironomids, non-biting midges, only live very short lifespans but have reportedly been a particular problem this year. It is believed that the midges come from the reservoir, but certain pesticides to calm down the population have been banned.

"The flies have been here since we moved in four years ago," one mother said.

"They come between March and stay for a couple of months."