But these comforting words are no longer just an old bedtime saying as the little blood sucking mites are invading an ever larger number of city homes leaving their hosts with an itchy situation.

Pest control workers across the city say they have been bombarded with an increasing number of calls from anxious people who want the bugs, which are smaller than a drawing pin and hide deep in beds, chairs, clothes, walls and floor cavities, zapped from their homes.

Owner of Barford Pest Control Services Ron Barford said that over the past two years the number of call outs to deal with bedbugs in Peterborough has risen from two or three cases in a year to a staggering 12 to 15 in a month.

The Farcet-based business owner, who has more than 20 years' experience in the industry, believes one of the main reasons behind the increase is poor hygiene, the growing popularity of travel and the numbers of people who over a period of time use the same beds in rented accommodation.

He said: "Bedbugs are biting people in Peterborough.

"They have only been a major problem for the past couple of years, and the main reason is because people are now travelling about a lot.

"We have also seen a large number of people coming to live in Peterborough from abroad or backpackers staying in lots of hotels."

The red and brown bugs, which are attracted by warmth and the presence of carbon dioxide simply means the infestation is only going to get worse with winter fast approaching and residents getting ready to turn their central heating on.

He said: "People are also using second hand furniture such as beds and chairs which may already be carrying the bugs. Simple steps such as changing bed sheets regularly and hovering carpets will help keep them away."

But in many cases the problem escalates and Mr Barford is called out.

Wearing overalls and a mask, both of which have to be incinerated once he has finished, he sprays every single room, wall, nook and cranny and then fumigates an infected house to get rid of the bugs.

He added: "It's not a five minute job. You would certainly know if you had them. Being bitten is the first sign as they leave big, welty blood spots on the face, legs, arms and often around the abdomen. Other tell tale signs are black spots on your mattress – the bug's droppings."