THE warm summer has led to a rise in wasp numbers and an increase in 'swarm attacks.

But what should you do if you are attacked by a swarm of wasps?

We are all painfully aware of how much of a nuisance wasps can be at summer barbecues or when we are relaxing in a beer garden.

Our instant reaction is to lash out at the wasps and swat them away.

But swatters beware. Experts are warning that swatting madly at wasps won’t help.

The Bolton News:

Wasps rarely attack people, and if they do, it's usually when they feel threatened.

Royal Horticultural Society entomologist, Dr Andrew Salisbury, said that swatting wasps can actually have the opposite effect, by provoking them to attack in a swarm.

Dr Salisbury said: “Distressed wasps can release alarm pheromones when they think they are being attacked, so flapping about or swatting will cause this.

“The pheromones will induce defensive behaviour which sends nearby colony members into a stinging frenzy.”

Last month, Stephen Cockroft was stung 42 times after accidentally disturbing a wasps’ nest. The 70-year-old had been trimming a hedge in his back garden in Delamere, Cheshire.

He said: “I thought I had brushed my arm against a stinging nettle but suddenly wasps were all around my upper torso and face.

“I dropped the machine and was desperately flailing my arms around trying to get them off my face. Even though I made a run for it they just followed and kept stinging me, they were really aggressive.”

The Bolton News:

Wasps give off pheromones when they are distressed, which acts as a 'call for back-up' to other wasps.

And while being stung by one wasp isn’t normally dangerous, “30 or 40 stings could kill you”, according to Dr Salisbury.

So, what should you do when angry wasps attack?

- Do not swat them.

- Remain calm and move slowly away from them.

- Do not seek shelter in a body of water, as wasps will wait for you to re-emerge.

- Wash the sting area with soap and water to remove as much of the venom as possible.

- Apply a cold pack to the wound site to reduce swelling and pain.

- Keep the wound clean and dry to prevent infection, and cover with a bandage.

- Over-the-counter pain relievers, such as ibuprofen, can manage pain associated with wasp stings.