Furry monsters are threatening to destroy a pensioner's garden.

Thousands of furry caterpillars have invaded a tree at Mary Blunden's home in Spencer Avenue, Hove.

It is the second year running her property has been infested by the creepy crawlies.

Mrs Blunden, 72, discovered they had returned when she was gardening.

She said: "There are three big balls of them, covered with something like a spider's web.

"They're quite small at the moment but they can grow up to 2in so I will be overrun.

They nearly destroyed my tree last year. I'm sure they'll succeed this time."

Brown tail moth caterpillars have been causing chaos in Portslade for a while.

Last year, residents were under siege by the bugs which caused skin reactions with their barbed hairs. The area was blitzed with insecticide but fresh hatchlings have been spotted this spring.