Village suffers fly infestation

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Environmental health officials have warned it will be at least another week before flies plaguing a south Wales village disappear.

Hundreds of house flies have been swarming into homes and business around Nottage near Porthcawl for the last five weeks.

After a number of complaints, officials linked the outbreak to a chicken farm.

The infestation is in the process of being treated but will not be under complete control for around 10 days.

Since the outbreak began, homeowners have been forced to shut their doors and windows and a number of local businesses have reported a significant drop in takings.

Bridgend Council said it investigated the problem following a "large number of complaints" tracing it back to Seaview Farm in Pyle Road, Porthcawl.

Chicken waste

Environmental health inspectors identified the source of the problem as chicken waste at the farm which the flies are using to breed in.

The council served an abatement notice on the owners of the farms on 31 July which has forced the company into taking steps to stop the problem within a 20-day window.

A council spokesman said it has since been told treatment of the infestation has begun.

"Local residents should notice a reduction in the number of flies and the infestation should be under complete control within 10 days or so," said the spokesman.

"The operators of Seaview Farm will then monitor the site daily and carry out proactive treatments to ensure that the problem does not reoccur."

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