'Vampire bugs' hit Britain's beaches - as bite risks being crippled or blinded

A concerning new report has revealed that so-called 'vampire bugs' are spreading across Britain's beaches, parks, and woodlands, posing a serious health risk to the public.

Experts have issued a fresh warning for Britons to be extra vigilant when spending time outdoors this summer, as the sun-and-storms combination of heat, humidity, and rain creates the perfect breeding conditions for blood-sucking ticks.

Many of these ticks are infected and can transmit the dreaded Lyme disease, which can leave victims unable to move or speak. Cases of this bacterial infection have risen in recent years, with some regions seeing higher numbers than others.

"It's tick season, so whilst you're out enjoying our wonderful Dorset countryside and seaside, take care to avoid tick bites," Public Health Dorset wrote in a post on its website. "Contact your GP if you notice a clear bullseye rash, or feel unwell with flu-like symptoms."

Worryingly, the ticks can also carry a fatal brain-swelling disease called tick-borne encephalitis, a condition which can cause meningitis. This disease has only recently been discovered in parts of England, having previously been confined to Europe, Russia, and Asia.

"Lyme disease is a very debilitating disease, it's the only disease carried by an organism in the UK that can be fatal," Howard Carter, an insect and tick bite prevention expert, said. "It can ruin people's lives."

The supermodel Bella Hadid has been open about her own 15-year battle with Lyme disease, sharing moments of her debilitating struggle on social media.

Experts have blamed the warmer and wetter weather this past winter which has not caused the usual die-off of tick populations

Experts believe that climate change may be contributing to the