Maggot infestation at Sheila Child Close

Rachel Dixon first contacted the Observer shortly after Rother's fortnightly bin collection system was introduced and she discovered maggots not only in and around her black wheely bin (sited directly next to her front door) but actually invading her home - gaining access by crawling under her front door.

Not long after, Rachel, who has two children aged five and one, said Rother District Council provided her with a bigger bin but the grubs kept returning.

She said: "For the past three months I've just dealt with the situation but it's been horrible! Maggots come into the house through the front door at least once a week, and last week even found their way into my Son's jacket, which he had left on the floor by the front door."

Rachel regularly cleans the area around the bins, pours boiling water, sprinkles salt and sprays insect spray, but it's all to no avail, and she now believes that the bins are not actually the cause of the problem and said she wants to know where the maggots are originating from.

Despite repeated calls and visits to Rother District council offices in Beeching Road, Rother Homes - the housing association who own Rachel's home - and the Environmental Health, Rachel has had no help getting to the root of the problem.

She said: "Rother District Council say it's a problem for Rother Homes, and Rother Homes say it's up to Rother council to deal with it. Everyone trys to pass the buck '“ it's like they don't want to deal with it."

Rachel believes the pests may actually be coming up from a drain, which is in the road near her house, as she has seen them on the road and pavements, and she claims people in neighbouring properties have had similar problems.

At one point Rachel was referred to a pesticide company but said she doesn't feel this is her responsibility nor that she should be liable to pay the costs which this would incur.

She said: "The man from the pesticide company was extremely rude and said there would be a charge if he came over to look '“ he also said I must have a dead animal in my house for the problem to be so bad!"

Rachel is angry and frustrated with the whole situation. She said: "They have to be coming from somewhere '“ they are not coming from the bin so where exactly are the maggots coming from? My house feels dirty and I've got two children '“ it's gone on for long enough and I want this problem sorted now!"

A Rother environmental health department spokesman said: "We received a request for service from Mrs Dixon on July 8 with regards to the presence of maggots on her property.

"Although this department's pest control service deals with a number of treatments for vermin this does not fall under that requirement.

"In this respect maggots arise from laying of fly eggs on organic material and Mrs Dixon has been advised that the most effective way of dealing with the issue is to remove the offending material.

"We have also offered to visit her property to deal with the matter although there will be a charge for this service. Members of the public are also able to obtain the services of private pest control contractors in this respect."

Rother District Council pest control service received 2,472 orders for treatment in the year 2007-2008 for numerous pests including cockroaches, fleas and wasps/bees as well as rats and mice. Treatments for rats are free on domestic properties.

The service can be contacted on 01424 787545.