Petitioners plagued by pesky mosquitos are calling on the council to help them see off the unwelcome visitors, which have appeared on part of the borough’s shoreline.

The plague of ochlerotatus detritus - otherwise known as the salt marsh mosquito - which hit Neston and Parkgate, was forecast by retired vet Emeritus Professor Michael Clarkson of Liverpool University’s School of Veterinary Science at Leahurst, Neston.

He reached his prediction after taking account of tides and weather affecting the marsh.

It resulted in black clouds of mosquitoes buzzing around the area and leaving several residents covered in painful bite marks.

But residents have now launched an e-petition with Cheshire West and Chester Council calling for action.

Already gaining more than 70 signatures, it calls on the council to provide the finance ‘to control the persistent and increasing problem of mosquitoes and other biting insects breeding on the marsh areas, preferably by means of insecticide spray from aircraft/helicopter which is the proven solution elsewhere in the world’.

Resident Richard Parfect said: “Local residents are fed up with the debilitating bites that have been numerous this year, covering up and applying repellent has had limited effect.

“Furthermore, there have been cases where people have required medical treatment and it can’t have done local businesses much good.

“We ourselves have felt little incentive to go for an ice cream at Parkgate.

“It is clear that relying on a passive control policy has utterly failed this year.”

He argues for the use of measures such as an insecticide specifically targeted against the larval life stage of insects and most commonly used against mosquitoes.

This could be sprayed from the air or even by hovercraft which should be able to navigate across the marsh with ease be believes.

He added: “What is clear is that as our climate gets wetter and warmer such incidents will increase and we can’t expect the insects to remain free of dangerous viruses indefinitely, that will almost certainly change with time.”

The petition can be found by visiting the council’s website at www.cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk and searching for ‘e-petitions’ in the search bar.

The deadline is November 5.