Residents besieged by caterpillars will not be able to open windows or sit in their gardens during the summer.

Hundreds of caterpillars in allotments and gardens in Mile Oak, Brighton, are transforming the leafy oasis into a barren area.

Keen gardeners and residents whose gardens back on to the allotments have been suffering from itchy rashes from the two-inch brown-tail moth caterpillars since the invasion six weeks ago.

Despite the sunny weather, people in Overdown Rise and Gorse Close can't sit in their gardens and swelter in their homes with the windows shut.

The Argus reported the plight of the gardeners earlier this month. They have now had to abandon their organic policy by having their plots sprayed in an attempt to curtail the spread.

Delays by Brighton and Hove City Council to spray the area have been blamed for the scale of the problem. Extra efforts included spraying some gardens and digging up blackberry bushes, which were believed to be the source of the problem.

Pam Brookshaw, 63, of Overdown Rise, found her washing hung on the line was covered with caterpillars.

She fears the fund-raising garden coffee mornings she arranged over the next two months may be cancelled. She said: "Last weekend with that beautiful weather we couldn't go out to have a barbecue or open the windows.

"Normally my garden is full of clematis and roses but only two out of 14 clematises have survived. All that's left of four rose bushes is one straggly bit.

"I'm still having to kill about 30 caterpillars first thing in the morning and we had to squash some more at the front door when we return home.

"Everyone is covered with rashes and, while we're grateful for what the council's done, it hasn't worked."

Barbara and Roy Mitchell's garden in Gorse Close is among the worst hit. Mrs Mitchell, 59, fears the problem will be worse next year if the council does not deal with the problem.

The council distributed a leaflet to residents last month warning the caterpillars can cause "total defoliation" and suggesting people cover up when around them.

A spokesman said: "We need to keep the problem in perspective. While they're a nuisance they're not a major threat and some councils don't even treat them at all."