Environment Agency to investigate Culcheth's plague of flies

Residents of the village first began to notice a larger-than-usual number of flies swarming in the area last year.

These problems persisted as late as autumn last year, which prompted a group of residents to survey other villagers regarding the problem of flies.

Residents were seeing abnormal amounts of flies caught in flycatching devices (Image: Supplied)

According to that survey, hundreds of houses in the area were impacted by the swarming flies.

At the time, one Croft resident - who has lived in the area for more than 50 years - had never witnessed issues with flies as bad as they were last summer.

The resident's daughter added: "[Last] year the flies were like nothing we’ve witnessed before.

"I absolutely know that this is not just a 'price you pay for living in the country' issue for two reasons.

"One, it’s never been this bad before; and two, I live rurally myself and - when returning from my mum’s - I counted a grand total of two in my own house."

Flies were getting into people's homes, too (Image: Newsquest)

At the height of the fly problem, residents had claimed that a local farm could be the source of the problem; citing that the farm's increased activities coincided with the rising number of flies in the area.

Responding to the claims, the farm said: "[We] are aware of the allegation.

"As a responsible operator, we take our environmental obligations seriously and we continue to work closely with both the Environment Agency and Local Environmental Health."

A local farm's disposal site has been alleged to be the source of the problem (Image: Supplied)

The last time the Environment Agency issued an update on the situation, the agency explained that it would keep tabs on the levels of flies, as well as work with Warrington Borough Council - however, the agency said that residents would have to wait until 2023 for anything to proceed.

Recently, residents have begun to notice flies appearing once again in the village, and are beginning to fret that the flies will return in their droves.

Some residents were replacing flypaper multiple times every week (Image: Hilary Heywood)

Now, however, the Environment Agency has responded to the Warrington Guardian's request for an update on the situation.

A spokesperson said: "We have received some reports of flies in Culcheth over recent days.

"We are carrying out a joint investigation with the local authority, and will be visiting the area to carry out further enquiries.”

Warrington Borough Council has also been contacted for comment.