War is being waged against toxic caterpillars in a bid to eradicate them from the Tendring coastline following an invasion last summer.

Their days are numbered - toxic caterpillars are being burnt in their homes after they cause rashes. Picture: STEVE BRADING (28423-d)

Plants are to be cut down along the seafront over the next couple of weeks and burnt as part of the effort to destroy the caterpillars' homes.

Burning has been chosen as it is more likely to be effective than spraying which only proved partly effective earlier this year.

The work will be carried out by Tendring Council's lesiure services following complaints from residents who have spotted the caterpillars are back.

Janet Wright, of Frinton, had alerted the Evening Gazette to the situation last month. She noticed they were busy building nests along the Frinton and Walton cliffs and had also invaded the Naze.

In the summer the tiny creatures multiplied beyond belief and reached epidemic proportions.

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Published Thursday, December 1, 2005

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