KENNET District Council has warned residents and businesses that it has had to suspend its pest control service until a new officer has been properly trained.

Richard Fielding, a former police officer, had been the council's pest control officer for about two years but he handed in his notice a month ago and has now left the staff at Browfort in Devizes.

His replacement has been appointed but he will not be able to take up the post until early May and will have to undergo training.

Rob Draper, acting principal environmental health officer at Kennet, said: "It is most unfortunate that it has worked out like this, but we cannot offer a pest control service unless we have a properly qualified person in charge of it.

"The new officer will be in post by the end of May, before the wasp season really begins."

Last year Kennet's pest control service found itself overwhelmed by appeals from district residents to come and get rid of wasps' nests in their homes. Mr Draper said: "On average, we have about 400 call outs in a year, but last year we had over 900 and had to get in private contractors to help us out."