Health officials are advising people to ape apes after a day in the country. Checking for ticks may prevent the parasite-borne lyme disease, which has been encouraged by milder winters and growing interest in outdoor activities.

Without antibiotics symptoms can develop from a rash to nervous system complications, arthritis or fatigue. Children should be checked round the head and neck but ticks tend to go for warm moist parts of the body in adults, including waistband areas on the back difficult to inspect alone.

Nearly 600 cases of lyme disease were reported in England and Wales last year.