A NASTY black 'superfly' from the south looks to have invaded Herefordshire after the county saw a surge in infected insect bites.

Many people have experienced a whole new level of discomfort this year, while doctor’s surgeries and hospitals have also been inundated.

Landscape gardener Steve Booth was “at the end of his tether” when he contacted the Hereford Times after being bitten on both legs, and said the worst affected areas seemed to be Woolhope, Fownhope, Hoarwithy and Mordiford.

“They have a nasty bite that swells up to a two or three-inch area around it,”

Steve said. “Then the itching comes, which brings on the bleeding – all in all, not a very pleasant experience.”

The prime suspect is the Blandford fly, named after the Dorset town from where it emerged in the 1960s and 70s.

Population numbers decreased in the 1980s but now a new surge is causing havoc.

But, while that species is thought to breed mainly around water, a wide range of areas locally have suffered.

Jo Walshe, from Tillington, was bitten three times and is still waiting for the scars to heal.

The mum-of-two “thought her skin would burst” after the infection spread to her ankle and now wears a special repellent bracelet every day.

Meanwhile Lisa Shaw, from Hampton Park, Hereford, was also bitten last week and said the pain was “something you can't describe”, while grandmother Barbara Ferris developed suspected cellulitis following a bite to her leg.

“I can understand why someone would go to hospital,”

Lisa said. “I consider myself a fit and healthy person but for an older person it could make them really poorly and cause extreme pain.”

Karen Williams, nurse practitioner at Greyfriars Surgery in Hereford, said “every third patient” in recent weeks was there due to insect bites, while Hereford Hospital have also confirmed a higher than usual number of related visitors to A&E this year.

“For a couple of days it really was ridiculous,”

Karen said. “And some of them were particularly nasty.”

Patients who develop a high temperature, start to feel unwell or show signs of infection in the track lines of a limb should seek help, but most patients should recover without issue.

Information leaflets are also available from your local medical practice.