Fed-up residents have demanded action as swarms of flies continue to invade their Benfleet homes.

Locals claim the fly population in Benfleet has reached epidemic proportions and despite investing in gallons of fly killer and expensive electronic zappers the germ-carrying insects keep returning.

Ann Sherwin, of Appleton Road, said: "I am reluctant to have my granddaughter come over. It's really, really awful and we do feel quite ashamed to have so many flies in our homes. It is making our lives a misery."

Neighbours believe the most likely culprit is Pitsea tip, just over the border in Basildon.

Although residents have suffered for the last two years, this summer is the worst yet. They are being forced to keep their doors and windows firmly shut despite the sweltering weather.

Mrs Sherwin said: "At the moment there are about a dozen flies in my kitchen which is clean. We are not just talking about one or two.

"I do not have a bin in there and the dustbin is right down the end of the garden. No matter what we do we just cannot get rid of them. We are fighting flies to eat our food.

"I think they should be doing more to help us. We've got to go through the whole summer like this."

She added that so far residents had suffered in silence but now felt the situation was so bad something had to be done.

Castle Point Council's environmental health department has promised to monitor the problem after receiving numerous complaints.

Alan Longford, director of health and housing, said the Environment Agency had been contacted.

He added: "There have been many complaints from residents about the flies.

"It could be something to do with the hot weather. We really need to catch one to see if they are bluebottles or house flies and we are investigating where they are coming from."

A spokeswoman for Pitsea landfill site said: "The hot weather is conducive to an increase in the fly population but we do step up measures to control it in warmer weather.

"Since the beginning of May we have been spraying the flies and are covering the waste at the end of each day."

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