Villagers plagued by a fly infestation described to their MP how this summer has been "intolerable" due to swarms of the insects.

At a meeting held at Great Snoring's social club on August 28, dozens of people gathered to express their frustration over the number of flies that have for years plagued the village.

Those living in Great Snoring highlighted the army of flies has had financial, physical and mental consequences for people and businesses there.

Kay Clarke, who opened the meeting, said: "The summer of 2024 has been intolerable."

The meeting was held at the Social Club in Great Snoring.The meeting was held at the Social Club in Great Snoring. (Image: Google Maps)
Many have had to rely on fly screens, zappers, sticky traps and repellent to quell the insects but to little avail.

The problem has also impacted local tourism with visitors staying in nearby holiday lets cutting their trips short due to the insect nuisance.

To emphasize their plight, Vanessa Green, who asked questions on behalf of the villagers, also made chocolate chip and raisin cupcakes. 

Vanessa Green made cupcakes for the panel at the meeting, but could not guarantee there would not be flies in the baked goods.Vanessa Green made cupcakes for the panel at the meeting, but could not guarantee there would not be flies in the baked goods. (Image: Vanessa Green)
She said to Broadland and Fakenham MP Jerome Mayhew and others on the panel with him: "Me and my little boy have baked you some cakes. However I cannot guarantee there won't be flies in them."

The villagers sought a "long-term plan" to manage the flies so they would not "have to suffer every summer".

In response, the environmental health officers for North Norfolk District Council, who investigated a number of sources for the flies including a nearby poultry farm on the outskirts of Great Snoring, said they depended on ongoing data to inform steps going forward.

Some of the evidence gathered and presented to the panel at the meeting included images of dozens of flies.Some of the evidence gathered and presented to the panel at the meeting included images of dozens of flies. (Image: Vanessa Green)
Carol Bye, environmental health officer for North Norfolk District Council, said from her samples the flies are a "mix of lesser house flies and common house flies".

Ms Bye also said David Perowne, owner of the poultry business at Top Farm, was proactive and engaging with the environmental health officers to find a lasting solution.

One villager said: "We can very much live alongside the chicken farm, no one is saying otherwise. We just want to know the situation will be controlled."

Mr Mayhew said he would be the "convener" for the villagers and "hold the environmental health officers to account".

Jerome Mayhew said he would work with the villagers to hold the environmental officers to account.Jerome Mayhew said he would work with the villagers to hold the environmental officers to account. (Image: UK Parliament)
He said: "I know from personal experience that this has been going on for a very long time but I also know that we've got a farmer who is willing to engage and I will encourage that going forward."

The officers asked those present to keep sending reports of flies - and also no reports of flies - to assist with their communication with the farmer and ensure they stay ahead of the problem.

Mr Perowne, who was not present at the meeting, said afterwards: "The farm follows best practice to control or reduce fly numbers.

"Flies can act as a vector for a number of poultry diseases, as well as creating a nuisance for our fellow villagers and ourselves, so it is in the farm’s interest to control fly numbers.

David Perowne said Top Farm was adopting best practices to ensure the problem is kept under control.David Perowne said Top Farm was adopting best practices to reduce fly numbers. (Image: IAN BURT)
"We also run a holiday let and a bed and breakfast, so we have a double interest in controlling them.

"This year we have used a programme that started last February and we continue to cooperate fully with North Norfolk District Council and will do in the future.

"We also seek advice from leading industry experts to ensure we tackle the issue with the maximum efficacy."

David Clifton, parish councillor, warned those in attendance that flies also reproduce elsewhere and this was a natural consequence of living in rural villages "where there are cows, horses, chickens". 

He said: "It doesn't stop with the flies. It'll go beyond trying to stop flies and eliminating house flies will have a greater impact on the overall ecology, and we have to be careful of that."