‘Horror’ invasion of blood-sucking flies leaves villagers scared to open home windows
A plague of blood-hungry flies has turned a tiny rural village into ‘hell’, with locals unable to open their windows or even step outside for fear of the ‘nightmare’ dung-dwelling insects
A quaint English village is reeling from a “horror film” invasion of blood-sucking flies that are still swarming homes in the dead of winter.
Locals in Firsby in Lincolnshire complain that they can’t open their windows or step outdoors because of the clouds of buzzing flies that make life “hell” and attack pets, leaving a dog requiring an ear amputation.
The “nightmare” even includes a blanket of “fly poo” that coats windows and can’t be washed away. “Everything is covered in this,” a local fumes. “You can’t see out of the windows either, it’s that bad. It’s virtually impossible to remove.”
Mum-of-one Zena Thomas, 60, who has lived in her home for more than 30 years, said the issues started when a business opened up opposite a few years ago.
But the fly plague became so severe this year that swarms started in April and continued all through the winter months.
She says life has become a “nightmare” as she is now trapped in her home, which is unsellable as a result of the flies, and visitors now stay away.
Zena reckons the stable flies, which feed on blood and live in rotting manure, come from a nearby business – but she claims nobody is willing to help.
The flies are also damaging window frames and paintwork. Shocking footage shows how they often cover her car. “This is my home, not only can we not use it, but it makes life a nightmare,” she said.
“When you mention it to people they think it’s a few flies. But there’s thousands of them, you can’t get in your car or leave your windows open. People won’t come here to visit us either. I bought a barbecue but I’ve never used it…
“My car window is covered in fly poo, too. You can’t easily wash it. Everything is covered in this. You can’t see out of the windows either, it’s that bad. It’s virtually impossible to remove.”
Zena said that vets told her to amputate the ear of one of her dogs because the fly bites were so severe. “They bit my 16-year-old dog Cat’s ear and she needed treatment. They say they may need to amputate the tip of her ear.”
The part-time receptionist says she would leave the street if she could, but reckons “no one will buy the property” because of the swarms.
“The stable flies live in manure, hay, and straw. They have to have a blood feed before they lay their eggs. The smell is ridiculous too, you get out of your car and you’re gagging.”
Other villagers said the problem was now “out of control” and the swarms made it impossible to use their gardens.
One local, who wished to remain anonymous, added: “It’s like a horror film at times up there. There’s just clouds of them and if you drive your car up, it is absolutely caked in flies within seconds..”
Another resident Sean Roachford, 55, said the swarms stop his grandchildren playing in the garden. The grandad-of-five said: “You can’t sit outside in the summer. As soon as you set up the barbecue they come out.
“My wife works from home. Even during the day she has to keep the windows shut because of the flies. My grandchildren can’t even really come over. The flies do bite, so they have to be careful. We’ve all been bitten, so you try and limit how often they’re outside.”
The Environment Agency said the case was “outside of their remit” and would be a matter for the local authority. East Lindsey District Council has been approached for comment.
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