TICK bites could lead to Lyme disease if certain warning signs are not picked up early by Bolton residents, according to a local forester.

In the UK, ticks live on woodland plants and animals, including sheep and deer, which means people are especially vulnerable to being bitten on country walks.

Summer is a peak time for infection and, while numbers are low in the UK, the number of cases reported has more than quadrupled since 1997.

Royal Forestry Society North Western chairman John Chapman said: “The risks of catching Lyme disease remain very small, but people should be aware of symptoms.

“It should not deter people from enjoying the countryside and nature, but being aware may prevent later illnesses developing.”

The first sign of Lyme disease in humans is a persistent rash and spots with a ‘bulls eye’ appearance.