HAY fever hell could be on the way for sufferers in South Tyneside, experts have warned. A sudden rise in the UK pollen count could reach critical levels within days. With the weather set to warm up, there are predictions of a high grass-pollen season by the end of the month. The North East of England could be a pollen hot spot. Professor Jean Emberlin, director of Pollen UK and the National Pollen and Aerobiology Research Unit at the University of Worcester, said: “The worst-affected regions will be in central and northern England which could experience very high counts on warm days.” The...

By Beth Hale There’s something blowing on the breeze in West Street. And it’s not pleasant. Residents are keeping their windows and doors tightly closed, and gardens are no-go areas. Some householders even need to don full-body protective clothing – complete with breathing masks – to venture outside. It’s all because the road is under siege from an invasion of caterpillars little more than an inch long. But what the brown tail moth caterpillar lacks in size, it makes up for in its covering of hairs, which break off as barbs into the air. Read more…

Hay fever sufferers face one of their most miserable summers for years, experts have warned. The combination of an extra-cold winter followed by a dry summer could send pollen counts sky high – and millions of Britons reaching for their tissues. Symptoms such as sneezing, runny noses, burning throats, exhaustion and headaches could all be worse than usual. Pollen expert Jean Emberlin said: ‘The growing season is starting later than usual and all the grasses have been held back. ‘They will probably all start to flower at once and the counts will go from low to very high in the...