Bedbugs still a problem at Ipswich tax office after 12 months

HMRC first became aware of a bedbug issue at its Ipswich office last summer

A tax office in Ipswich has been battling a bed bug problem for more than a year.

The HM Revenues and Customs (HMRC) office in Brooke Lawrance House in Civic Drive has been repeatedly searched and treated.

Sniffer dogs and treatments have been used and employees have home testing available to them.

An HMRC spokesperson said the health and safety of employees was the department's "top priority".

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HMRC became aware of the issue last summer and said it sought expert advice.

Chemical treatments, steam cleaning, chemical free Diatomaceous Earth dust treatments and sniffer dog assessments have been used in affected areas.

The office on Civic Drive in Ipswich has been repeatedly searched and treated for bedbugs

Employees based in the Ipswich office have free testing and treatment provided where necessary, HMRC said.

An HMRC spokesperson said: "The health and safety of employees is our top priority, and we are following expert advice to treat and manage the issue."

Bedbugs have been reported in cinemas, trains, hospitals and schools amid national panic over the issue in France, with many cases focused on Paris.

Natalie Bungay, from the British Pest Control Association (BPCA) has said the issue of bedbugs is not new to the UK.

They can be found all over the UK, but are a bigger issue in major cities.

What do bedbugs look like?

Bedbugs are small, with adults reaching about 5mm (0.2in) in length (smaller than a grain of rice) and are oval-shaped. They have six legs and can be dark yellow, red or brown.

There are about 90 species worldwide, although the common bedbug (cimex lectularius) has adapted the best to human environments, according to the BPCA.

The term "bedbug" can be a touch misleading. As well as mattresses, they can also be found on clothing, furniture, bed frames, or behind loose wallpaper.