Pest control officers are working round the clock to deal with thousands of pleas for help after an explosion in wasp nest numbers across the district.

And today they warned the public to beware and not attempt to tackle the problem alone.

Bradford Council's pest control department dealt with around 2,200 calls during May and June alone - most of them to wasps' nests. The Council fears figures for July could be even worse.

Officers are now receiving hundreds of calls a day, less than halfway through August, traditionally the worst month for wasps.

Last year, the department dealt with just over 3,600 calls, mainly for wasps, in August and September.

The figure dropped to 1,200 in October, 1,000 in November and 736 in December.

The wasp numbers are believed to have swelled because of the mild winter, which meant more queens survived hibernation.

The intricate nests are made from paper produced by the wasps from wood they have chewed.

They can grow to the size of a beach ball and are vigorously defended by the wasps over summer.

Most people who are stung by the insects suffer soreness and tenderness which usually wears off after a few hours, but one in 200 people is allergic to stings and can suffer problems including a severe itchy rash and breathing difficulties.

Sometimes the stings can cause shock and can kill.

Pest control officers deal with the nests by spraying them with a special insecticide.

Pest control manager Dennis Shipway said he and his staff were working weekends and evenings on top of normal hours because of the volume of calls.

He added: "We are absolutely inundated. It is all hands to the pump. The staff are being brilliant and we try to get to the nests within three days."

He said the wasps preferred to build their nests in leafy Ilkley, Baildon and Bingley, while areas like West Bowling had fewer problems.

Mr Shipway said: "We always stand by for this time of the year, but this time there are more calls than ever."

Executive member for the environment, Councillor Anne Hawkesworth, said: "It is an unfortunate side effect to having a milder winter. The main thing is that people should call the experts and not try to deal with it alone."

People who want nests removed can ring Bradford 759326. The Council charges £35 for the service or £15 for pensioners and people receiving benefits.