The city of Luton has been invaded by bed bugs as the horror insect infestation worsens.
Luton Council has issued guidance on what people can do to stop the spread of bed bugs after they received an “alarming number” of calls.
They said they had issued advice on what people can do to prepare their homes for “treatment”.
They warned that the council did not have “limitless resources” to deal with the problem, which originally started in France and has made its way to the UK.
As the risk to homeowners grows, local Governments have been trying to reassure the public.
In a statement, Luton Council said: “This national bedbug problem has not missed Luton. The Pest Control Service is currently receiving an alarming number of bedbug jobs on a weekly basis.
“Whilst the bedbug is not known to be a carrier of disease, the Council does recognise the bedbug as being an obnoxious pest with which to have to share a home and for that reason, control in the domestic property is not free.
“However, successful treatment can be a lengthy process and the Council does not have limitless resources to counter this pest.
“To ensure effective and successful treatment the Council expects the complete cooperation from the homeowner.”
They added: “Therefore, having identified that you have a bedbug problem at home and arranged for a visit from a pest control officer from the council you should make your home ready for the treatment.”
They said the officer would require access to all areas that needed treating, beds to be stripped, and all wardrobes, bookcases and draws to be emptied and placed in sealed bin liners in the bath.
They also said the officer would need furniture to be pulled away from the walls and all pictures and posters to be taken off the walls.
They said that while any insecticides would be used “properly and safely” that “no insecticides are completely safe”.
The invasion of bed bugs has caused concern for thousands of people who are worried about picking up bed bugs on their commute.
In an attempt to reassure the public, London Mayor Sadiq Khan told Politics Joe: “People are worried about these bugs in Paris causing a problem in London.
“I want to reassure those listening that TfL has the best regimes to clean our assets on a nightly basis.
“We are speaking to our friends in Paris to see if there are any lessons to be learnt but for a variety of reasons, we don’t think those issues will arise in London, but there is no complacency from TfL.”
