Hospitals have seen more patients with stings this summer

Hospital and council chiefs in the region say calls about nests and stings have soared this year.

Animal behaviour expert Michael Archer has claimed the number of wasps in the UK has risen to a 20-year high.

The retired lecturer believes eco-friendly farming is to blame for the increase in the population.

Ken Walker head of environmental health at South Staffordshire Council said he wants to take on more staff after struggling to cope with the 476 calls received about wasps between June and July this year.

We currently have three pest control officers, they are chasing their tails at the moment Ken Walker, South Staffordshire Council

He said that represented an 83 per cent increase on the same period last year.

"We have had more calls and it is having an effect on our responses as we only have a certain number of pest control officers," he said.

"We currently have three who also take on other duties, they are chasing their tails at the moment."

Calls are now being prioritised depending on whether the problem is inside a house and if the householder has an allergy to wasp stings.

Mr Walker added that officers had noticed a large number of queen wasps earlier in the year.

"The last time we had such a heavy number of calls was in 2002 and now it is 48 per cent above that," he said.

"I think changes in the weather have the most significance.

"I will be speaking to the councillor responsible to see if can bring in additional staff."

The number of people complaining of wasp stings has also increased at several hospital accident and emergency departments.

People have become a bit wound up by the information around and think that everybody is allergic to stings Liz Symonds, Hereford County Hospital

But Consultant Liz Symonds, from Hereford County Hospital, said most stings could be treated with over-the-counter treatments.

"There's certainly been more people attending A&E with wasp stings in the last six weeks," she said.

"It is usually just swelling, people have become a bit wound up by the information around and think that everybody is allergic to stings.

"People should only be concerned if they develop facial swelling, breathing difficulties or a rash all over their body which usually comes pretty quickly."

Health bosses at University Hospital of North Staffordshire and Solihull Hospital also reported increased numbers of people turning up with wasp stings this year.

Wasp researcher Dr Archer found that numbers of common and German wasps had risen steeply after analysing wasps caught across the country in 2002

Since 1980 the insects' numbers had declined, due in part to intensive pesticide use and hedgerow removal.