Residents complained after a mystery infestation of hundreds of thousands of caterpillars left them covered in bites.

The locals in the Bang Phil district of Sumut Prakan, Thailand, discovered the creepy crawlies in woodland next to their homes on December 3.

One man's entire chest was covered in a rash from the caterpillar's while another woman said they had entered her home and bitten her arms and legs.

The local mayor, Anan Tangniannatchai, was called in to investigate and he promised to eradicate the pests by ''pruning trees and spraying pesticide''.

He said: ''The source of the caterpillars is an open area of wasteland with trees. The insects have spread from the trees to homes and people have had an allergic reaction to them.

''We will clear the area and spray pesticide. If the caterpillars are still breeding then we will consult pest control experts.''

Residents complained after a mystery infestation of hundreds of thousands of caterpillars left them covered in bites.

The locals in the Bang Phil district of Sumut Prakan, Thailand, discovered the creepy crawlies in woodland next to their homes on December 3.

One man's entire chest was covered in a rash from the caterpillar's while another woman said they had entered her home and bitten her arms and legs.

The local mayor, Anan Tangniannatchai, was called in to investigate and he promised to eradicate the pests by ''pruning trees and spraying pesticide''.

He said: ''The source of the caterpillars is an open area of wasteland with trees. The insects have spread from the trees to homes and people have had an allergic reaction to them.

''We will clear the area and spray pesticide. If the caterpillars are still breeding then we will consult pest control experts.''

Local resident Nutcha Sriyangnok said said: ''I was sleeping and when I woke up I was very itchy. There were bites on my arms and and legs. The caterpillars were in my bed, so we have cleaned the whole house.''