Players from the teams of Alvechurch and Dominies Guild in the Worcestershire Borders League found themselves plagued by thousands of mating flying ants.

Dr Bob Ellis: The ants are harmless

The players and umpires tried to stem the invasion by pouring boiling water on the nests - but without success.

The game at Alvechurch village cricket ground was finally abandoned with Dominies on 98 for five chasing the home team's 240 for nine.

Mating on the wing

Expert Dr Bob Ellis, an entomologist at the Horticultural Research Institute in Warwickshire said: "It is the one day of the year when their nuptial flight occurs.

"Young queens and winged males are produced in the nest and in response to the right climatic conditions, temperature and humidity, they fly together."

The ants mate on the wing and the sight of thousands of ants could be quite alarming, he said.

Dr Ellis said: "All they are trying to do is get on with their exciting business of going on this nuptial flight.

"As they are completely harmless and probably would only tickle you the only thing to do is to leave the insects to take off quite naturally and put up with the tickling as they crawl up your trousers or over your shirt."