An infestation of flies is plagueing the lives of people in Westbury, with the combination of hot weather and the recently opened Northacre resource recovery centre blamed for the problems.

Scores of people living near the Mechanical Biological Treatment plant, which is operated by Hills Waste Solutions in Northacre Industrial Park, have complained to the Environmental Agency (EA) about the flies.

Wiltshire Council, who have received 24 complaints, confirmed that its environmental health team is also liaising with Hills and EA, who are the regulating authority for the Westbury plant.

The site, which has been undergoing a critical commissioning phase since January to highlight any issues, received the first load of waste on February 25, but has been operating at full capacity in the last four weeks.

Neil Martin, who lives in Oldfield Road, Westbury, said: “It’s an absolute nightmare. I have lived in Westbury for 10 years and we have never had a problem with flies before last week.

“On some days we have killed around 100 flies within about 15 minutes, but they just keep coming. I do believe that it has been caused by the Hills site.

“We have to keep our windows and doors shut because we are inundated with flies and we can’t even sit and eat outside on the patio as the flies just get into the food. It’s very uncomfortable.”

Former town councillor Mike Cuthbert-Murray, of Haynes Road, said: “My house is plagued with flies, they seem to be everywhere. I have been zapping them and killing as many as I can, but they still keep coming. All the shops are struggling to deal with the demand for fly paper.”

The owner of DIY shop Davies, in Edward Street, said he had experienced high demand for fly repellent equipment, with the store selling out of fly paper on three occasions in the past week.

Katherine Storey, who lives in Paxman’s Road, said: “It was really horrendous at the weekend. We went for a barbecue next door and there were hundreds of flies, making it difficult to eat.

“We put up three strips of fly paper in our kitchen and they were all full within 20 minutes. It’s really horrible and it’s no way to live.”

Paul Gainey, from the south west region of the EA, said: “The Environment Agency has received more than 80 complaints from the public about a fly infestation problem at Westbury.

“We are currently investigating the cause and officers are working in the area to try and establish the possible source or sources of the fly problem.”

The £24 million Hills facility is currently undertaking steps to mitigate against any potential flies, with pest control experts visiting the site to spray for flies in any affected area.

Other steps taken include ensuring only one vehicle tips at a time, setting the extraction fans to maximum, speeding up the installation of water sprayers on the doors and investigating any potential opportunities for flies to escape the plant.

A statement released by Hills said: “Following complaints from the general public, Hills has been conducting investigations into the possible source of the flies. The Environment Agency has visited the site and is in regular contact with site management.

“Hills operates the Northacre resource recovery centre under strict licence and permit conditions, and is regulated by the Environment Agency.

“The site is currently undergoing a critical commissioning phase which is intended to highlight any issues, so that these can be addressed before the site becomes fully operational.

“Whilst the Northacre resource recovery centre has not been identified as the sole source of the problem, Hills acknowledges that the site may be a contributing factor, along with the extremely hot weather conditions.”

Hills has asked for anyone with concerns to make contact via the website at www.northacrerrc.co.uk