0:00:03 > 0:00:06We asked you who has left you feeling ripped off when it comes to
0:00:06 > 0:00:09your holidays and you came back with a catalogue of travel disasters.
0:00:09 > 0:00:12When we got to the hotel, it wasn't to the standard.
0:00:12 > 0:00:15We felt totally ripped off and we paid to move somewhere else.
0:00:15 > 0:00:16It happens all the time,
0:00:16 > 0:00:21that somebody else has paid less for the holiday that I've paid more for.
0:00:21 > 0:00:24So, whether it's a deliberate rip-off, a simple mistake,
0:00:24 > 0:00:26or a catch in the small print,
0:00:26 > 0:00:29we'll find out why you're out-of-pocket,
0:00:29 > 0:00:31and what you can do about it.
0:00:32 > 0:00:37Your stories, your money, this is Rip Off Britain.
0:00:37 > 0:00:40Hello and, in this case, a very warm welcome to Rip Off Britain
0:00:40 > 0:00:44where, along with a little sunshine, from the lovely island of Tenerife,
0:00:44 > 0:00:47we'll be bringing you plenty of tips and advice,
0:00:47 > 0:00:50in particular on how to stop your holiday being totally ruined by the
0:00:50 > 0:00:55arrival of some unwanted guests and in this case, we do not mean people,
0:00:55 > 0:00:59- Angela, do we?- No, we don't, Gloria. In fact, what we are talking about
0:00:59 > 0:01:02are various creatures that when you're on the beach
0:01:02 > 0:01:05or in your hotel room, are said to be on the increase.
0:01:05 > 0:01:08So, as we find out just why that might be,
0:01:08 > 0:01:11we're also going to be sure that you are armed with everything you need
0:01:11 > 0:01:14to know to avoid them causing a problem and, Julia,
0:01:14 > 0:01:16I am feeling that I'm itching already.
0:01:16 > 0:01:21Yeah, well, all these ticklish little customers can prove more than
0:01:21 > 0:01:22just an annoyance. In some cases,
0:01:22 > 0:01:25they can actually make or break your holiday.
0:01:25 > 0:01:28One in particular can be especially difficult to shake off
0:01:28 > 0:01:31and what's more, it only really comes out at night.
0:01:31 > 0:01:35So, it's just as your head is hitting the pillow that you may
0:01:35 > 0:01:37suddenly realise you're sharing your sheets
0:01:37 > 0:01:41- with some very unsavoury bedfellows. - Ouch.
0:01:42 > 0:01:45Coming up: They're back with a vengeance.
0:01:45 > 0:01:46Bedbugs.
0:01:46 > 0:01:49So, what happens if they've infested your holiday accommodation?
0:01:49 > 0:01:53It's just awful to hear the kids crying and I just felt...
0:01:53 > 0:01:56We just both felt really bad, felt really guilty that it was
0:01:56 > 0:01:59supposed to be fun for them and it had just turned into a nightmare.
0:02:01 > 0:02:04And if it's true that there are more jellyfish than ever off UK shores,
0:02:04 > 0:02:08what is the best way to avoid being stung on a day at the beach?
0:02:08 > 0:02:10It looked like she'd had boiling water
0:02:10 > 0:02:11poured over the tops of her legs.
0:02:11 > 0:02:14They were really red and very hot.
0:02:14 > 0:02:17It took us a long time to try and get her to calm down.
0:02:17 > 0:02:19She went into anaphylactic shock.
0:02:22 > 0:02:25Now, in our last series, we reported on a really horrible subject -
0:02:25 > 0:02:29that of bedbugs in hotel accommodation abroad.
0:02:29 > 0:02:31But I'm afraid now and I have to tell you,
0:02:31 > 0:02:33I'm itching at the very thought of it,
0:02:33 > 0:02:36the problem is rather closer to home, because those pesky,
0:02:36 > 0:02:39unbearable critters are now hitching a ride back to our own shores,
0:02:39 > 0:02:43in unprecedented numbers. And that means, and yes, you've guessed it,
0:02:43 > 0:02:45even if you are on holiday in the UK,
0:02:45 > 0:02:47you could find yourself sharing a room
0:02:47 > 0:02:50with some of the most unwelcome bedfellows,
0:02:50 > 0:02:51as happened to one family
0:02:51 > 0:02:54who captured the whole thing late at night on camera.
0:02:56 > 0:02:59Now, they're not the sort of guests anyone would want to share a hotel
0:02:59 > 0:03:02bed with. They hide in your sheets and then they come out at night
0:03:02 > 0:03:03to feast on your blood.
0:03:05 > 0:03:07And if they get into your luggage, well,
0:03:07 > 0:03:10you could end up taking them home as a souvenir.
0:03:10 > 0:03:12Yes, it's the dreaded bedbug,
0:03:12 > 0:03:16which, as we reported last year, seems to be making a big comeback.
0:03:17 > 0:03:20We started seeing the bugs coming out from the headboard
0:03:20 > 0:03:24and the sockets and behind the pictures on the walls
0:03:24 > 0:03:28and everything again, and we said, we just can't stay in that room.
0:03:28 > 0:03:32Tracey Lorenz told us how her holiday in Fuerteventura
0:03:32 > 0:03:34was absolutely ruined by them.
0:03:34 > 0:03:37I was really itchy, covered in bites,
0:03:37 > 0:03:39all up my arms and legs.
0:03:39 > 0:03:41I had bites up my face.
0:03:41 > 0:03:44In my ears, where my face was on the pillow,
0:03:44 > 0:03:46across my back and my front.
0:03:46 > 0:03:49I was literally covered in bites.
0:03:49 > 0:03:52I am so itchy already. Now, in the 1980s,
0:03:52 > 0:03:55bedbugs had all but been eradicated in the developed world
0:03:55 > 0:03:57but now, I'm afraid, they're on the rise again
0:03:57 > 0:04:01and it isn't just on holidays abroad that you might come across them.
0:04:01 > 0:04:05New infestations are reported in the UK every single week.
0:04:05 > 0:04:09Now, Dr James Logan of the London School Of Tropical Medicine
0:04:09 > 0:04:13is one of the country's leading experts on the pesky little devils
0:04:13 > 0:04:15and knows all about the rise in numbers.
0:04:15 > 0:04:19We found that there was around a sort of 30% increase
0:04:19 > 0:04:22in bedbug infestations every year
0:04:22 > 0:04:25and it's probably due to a number of things, including an increase
0:04:25 > 0:04:28in people travelling, and that might be contributing a little bit
0:04:28 > 0:04:32to bedbugs getting spread around the country.
0:04:33 > 0:04:37And it seems they've spread to all kinds of different accommodation,
0:04:37 > 0:04:41as childminder Nicky Martin found out after a much-needed night away.
0:04:41 > 0:04:43Her children, Evie and Alfie,
0:04:43 > 0:04:45had been so keen to go camping
0:04:45 > 0:04:47but, worried about what creepy-crawlies
0:04:47 > 0:04:50there might be around a tent, Nicky wasn't so sure.
0:04:50 > 0:04:52The children really wanted to go camping.
0:04:52 > 0:04:55We've camped before in the garden and they really loved it.
0:04:55 > 0:04:58So we wanted to venture out somewhere a bit further.
0:04:58 > 0:05:02We try to get out a lot, we ride bikes and we are quite outdoorsy.
0:05:02 > 0:05:05I've never really liked camping that much because of bugs.
0:05:05 > 0:05:07I'm a bit of a...like...
0:05:07 > 0:05:11Bugs climbing in your ears and stuff when you're camping.
0:05:11 > 0:05:15The family eventually agreed on what seemed a perfect compromise -
0:05:15 > 0:05:18glamping, a more luxurious way of being close to nature,
0:05:18 > 0:05:21which in this case meant camping in a wooden pod
0:05:21 > 0:05:24and a front door to keep unwanted insects out.
0:05:25 > 0:05:27Glamping, for us, was perfect.
0:05:27 > 0:05:29It meant that we had the best of both worlds.
0:05:29 > 0:05:30We could still have electric,
0:05:30 > 0:05:33we could lock the door and still be outside.
0:05:33 > 0:05:35Nicky booked one night in a camping pod
0:05:35 > 0:05:39at the Billing Aquadrome Holiday Park in Northampton.
0:05:39 > 0:05:42So we finally went ahead and booked it and then every day,
0:05:42 > 0:05:44the kids were saying, "Is it today we're going camping?
0:05:44 > 0:05:46"Is it today we're going camping?"
0:05:46 > 0:05:49And then when the day finally came, they were just really excited.
0:05:49 > 0:05:52And as soon as they arrived, the fun began.
0:05:52 > 0:05:54Fairground and bike rides,
0:05:54 > 0:05:57campfires, even toasting marshmallows.
0:05:57 > 0:06:00And a great day ended with a much-needed night's sleep.
0:06:00 > 0:06:02Or at least, that was the plan.
0:06:02 > 0:06:05We'd been in bed about ten minutes before Alfie then started
0:06:05 > 0:06:07complaining about being itchy
0:06:07 > 0:06:10and we just thought he was sweaty cos he'd been playing
0:06:10 > 0:06:12so much football with his friends and not had a shower.
0:06:12 > 0:06:15So, we didn't really think much of it.
0:06:15 > 0:06:19But when an hour later Alfie still couldn't sleep,
0:06:19 > 0:06:21Nicky's husband Keith swapped beds
0:06:21 > 0:06:24and soon he found that he was being kept awake as well.
0:06:26 > 0:06:28Keith felt really itchy and he thought it was just in his head,
0:06:28 > 0:06:31like when people talk about nits and stuff, you just think, ugh,
0:06:31 > 0:06:33you feel like you've got nits as well.
0:06:33 > 0:06:36He said he could feel stuff crawling on him and we put our lights on
0:06:36 > 0:06:38and realised... That's when we saw them all,
0:06:38 > 0:06:40and I just wanted to cry.
0:06:40 > 0:06:44Awful. It became apparent that everyone's skin and bedclothes
0:06:44 > 0:06:46were crawling with bedbugs,
0:06:46 > 0:06:48so Nicky started filming, using her mobile phone,
0:06:48 > 0:06:51to record the extent of the infestation.
0:06:51 > 0:06:55I started to take photos of the bugs that we could see on the duvets.
0:06:55 > 0:06:57There were bugs crawling on the children's faces.
0:06:57 > 0:07:01And all on Evie's pillow, with her hair and it was horrible.
0:07:01 > 0:07:03It was horrible to see.
0:07:04 > 0:07:08In a panic, Nicky and Keith decided to get out of the room very quickly
0:07:08 > 0:07:11and put the kids in the car but some of the bugs went with them.
0:07:13 > 0:07:16I could hear the kids screaming cos they could see something,
0:07:16 > 0:07:19so then I went back into the car and the duvet that I'd given them
0:07:19 > 0:07:23had still had a bug on it. So I shook it off and by that point,
0:07:23 > 0:07:24when they were in the car,
0:07:24 > 0:07:26I was just thinking, they're just everywhere.
0:07:26 > 0:07:28I just can't get away from them.
0:07:28 > 0:07:31After calling the emergency number at the Holiday Park,
0:07:31 > 0:07:33the staff did come to investigate
0:07:33 > 0:07:37and after confirming that the pod did have a bedbug infestation,
0:07:37 > 0:07:40it provided the family with alternative accommodation.
0:07:41 > 0:07:44I then just started crying and Keith just hugged me
0:07:44 > 0:07:46and just said, don't cry in front of the kids
0:07:46 > 0:07:49cos it'll worry them more. It's just awful to hear the kids crying.
0:07:49 > 0:07:52And we just both felt really bad,
0:07:52 > 0:07:54felt really guilty that it was supposed to be fun for them
0:07:54 > 0:07:56and it just turned into a nightmare.
0:07:57 > 0:08:01The next day, the family returned home, but Nicky says the car,
0:08:01 > 0:08:04bedding and clothes were still crawling with bugs,
0:08:04 > 0:08:06so she followed the advice,
0:08:06 > 0:08:09which is to wash garments and linen at a minimum of 60 degrees
0:08:09 > 0:08:11to kill them.
0:08:11 > 0:08:14One of the first things we did when we got home was just put
0:08:14 > 0:08:17everything in the wash, all our clothes. For boil washes,
0:08:17 > 0:08:19we left them out the front until there was space for them.
0:08:19 > 0:08:21Even after we'd washed everything,
0:08:21 > 0:08:24I still found a dead bug when I was folding up the clean washing.
0:08:24 > 0:08:28There was also one in the suitcase that we had all our food in.
0:08:28 > 0:08:30We fumigated the car.
0:08:30 > 0:08:33We sprayed all our luggage, all our suitcases.
0:08:33 > 0:08:35But even when we had washed stuff,
0:08:35 > 0:08:37I wasn't completely confident that it had all gone anyway.
0:08:37 > 0:08:41To be completely assured that they really were rid of the bugs,
0:08:41 > 0:08:44Nicky decided to throw this lot away.
0:08:44 > 0:08:48We threw away about £500 worth of belongings, air beds, bedding,
0:08:48 > 0:08:50kids' cuddly toys...
0:08:51 > 0:08:53..some things even after we've washed,
0:08:53 > 0:08:55I wasn't comfortable that they were clean.
0:08:57 > 0:08:58Since returning home,
0:08:58 > 0:09:01Nicky has used social media to make it known that she was not happy
0:09:01 > 0:09:04with her experience at Billing Aquadrome.
0:09:04 > 0:09:07And after doing so, she was contacted by another family
0:09:07 > 0:09:10who said the same thing had happened to them.
0:09:11 > 0:09:14So I've actually had a message from a lady that stayed
0:09:14 > 0:09:17in the same pod as us a few days before.
0:09:17 > 0:09:19"We stayed in that pod for three nights.
0:09:19 > 0:09:22"The next morning, we woke up covered in bites."
0:09:22 > 0:09:24I just feel really sad for her that they got so many bites.
0:09:26 > 0:09:29After complaining to the Billing Aquadrome Holiday Park,
0:09:29 > 0:09:33Nicky was refunded the £42 cost of the one-night stay.
0:09:33 > 0:09:36But she doesn't feel that that makes up for the terrible experience.
0:09:36 > 0:09:39I can't believe the cleaners had never noticed
0:09:39 > 0:09:42that there's bedbugs in there. It's left me feeling really angry.
0:09:42 > 0:09:44I feel angry that they think they can keep
0:09:44 > 0:09:48their pods in that condition and think that's acceptable
0:09:48 > 0:09:51cos it's not. I'd never go back there.
0:09:52 > 0:09:55We asked pest control expert Peter Barrow Davies
0:09:55 > 0:09:58to have a look at Nicky's video footage to see what he made of it.
0:09:59 > 0:10:01That's a pretty bad infestation.
0:10:01 > 0:10:04Based on temperature and the availability of food,
0:10:04 > 0:10:07it's looking like that's probably been there for six to nine months.
0:10:07 > 0:10:09The insects that we are seeing are just the ones that
0:10:09 > 0:10:13are on the surface. Bedbugs are the world's experts in hide and seek.
0:10:13 > 0:10:16They've spent hundreds of years learning how to hide.
0:10:16 > 0:10:19So what we're seeing on the surface is just what is coming out
0:10:19 > 0:10:22and can't actually get into the places that they can hide
0:10:22 > 0:10:24because there's so many insects in there.
0:10:24 > 0:10:27This is something that we come across quite regularly.
0:10:27 > 0:10:29A simple inspection by a pest controller
0:10:29 > 0:10:32or even a housekeeper should really have spotted this early on.
0:10:32 > 0:10:35Now, detection is one thing but the financial cost
0:10:35 > 0:10:39for a business to tackle an infestation can soon mount up.
0:10:39 > 0:10:43There is a huge cost of bedbugs to the hospitality industry.
0:10:43 > 0:10:47If you look at an average hotel with an average infestation,
0:10:47 > 0:10:50it will cost them between £5,000 and £10,000.
0:10:50 > 0:10:55That's made up from treatment, lost rooms, negative publicity.
0:10:55 > 0:10:58It really is a huge cost to the hospitality industry.
0:10:59 > 0:11:02We spoke to the Billing Aquadrome Holiday Park.
0:11:02 > 0:11:05It told us it sincerely regretted the inconvenience suffered
0:11:05 > 0:11:07by Nicky and her family.
0:11:07 > 0:11:11It says it acted immediately to upgrade and refund her
0:11:11 > 0:11:14and to call in specialist help.
0:11:14 > 0:11:17It added that despite entertaining hundreds of thousands of guests
0:11:17 > 0:11:19that this had never happened before
0:11:19 > 0:11:22and that the experts had helped to do everything it can
0:11:22 > 0:11:25to make sure that it doesn't happen again.
0:11:28 > 0:11:30Alfie, do you remember this?
0:11:31 > 0:11:33You had bugs on your face.
0:11:33 > 0:11:35- Did I?- Yeah.- On my face? Here?
0:11:35 > 0:11:37On your face. But Mummy and Daddy never told you that.
0:11:37 > 0:11:39But back at their home in Bedfordshire,
0:11:39 > 0:11:43Nicky and her family will take some persuading to try camping again,
0:11:43 > 0:11:45even at the glamping end of the scale.
0:11:45 > 0:11:49As the saying goes, once bitten, twice shy.
0:11:49 > 0:11:50It was like...
0:11:52 > 0:11:55..something out of a horror movie.
0:11:55 > 0:11:58The worst part of it for me was seeing the bugs on the kids' faces
0:11:58 > 0:12:01and feeling awful that we'd put them in this, it was
0:12:01 > 0:12:05supposed to be a holiday and then we just felt guilty that we'd...
0:12:06 > 0:12:08..put them in this pod full of bugs, really.
0:12:10 > 0:12:13Later in the programme, we'll hear how holiday-makers may unwittingly
0:12:13 > 0:12:15be bringing bedbugs into the UK.
0:12:15 > 0:12:17And as we'll see,
0:12:17 > 0:12:20Peter and his team use sniffer dogs to hunt them down.
0:12:20 > 0:12:22We'll have everything you need to know
0:12:22 > 0:12:25about keeping those dreaded bugs at bay.
0:12:31 > 0:12:34This time last year, we looked into reports that seagulls
0:12:34 > 0:12:37were becoming really more aggressive and quite a menace
0:12:37 > 0:12:40in British seaside resorts and we had some really great tips
0:12:40 > 0:12:43on how you can avoid them swooping down to steal your food.
0:12:43 > 0:12:47But now there's another creature that, every summer, it's claimed
0:12:47 > 0:12:50is becoming an increasing threat to anybody
0:12:50 > 0:12:54who likes to dip rather more than just their toes into the sea.
0:12:54 > 0:12:57And if you believe the scare stories that there are swarms of them
0:12:57 > 0:13:01in the waters internationally, just waiting to pounce,
0:13:01 > 0:13:04are jellyfish really on the rise along our shores?
0:13:04 > 0:13:08And if so, what is the best way to avoid being stung?
0:13:11 > 0:13:14Of all the mysterious creatures that live in the ocean,
0:13:14 > 0:13:17the jellyfish is perhaps one of the most misunderstood
0:13:17 > 0:13:20and also one of the most feared.
0:13:20 > 0:13:23There's been an invasion on our beaches.
0:13:23 > 0:13:27Barrel jellyfish have been spotted in huge numbers.
0:13:27 > 0:13:30We've just spotted a large jellyfish off the side of the boat.
0:13:30 > 0:13:32It looks quite frightening.
0:13:32 > 0:13:36And as the temperature of the waters around the UK coast rise,
0:13:36 > 0:13:39so, it seems, does the number of the gelatinous creatures
0:13:39 > 0:13:41cropping up on our shores.
0:13:41 > 0:13:44More and more jellyfish are being spotted on the UK's coastline.
0:13:46 > 0:13:48So, how scared should we be?
0:13:48 > 0:13:53Well, while tales of swarms of jellyfish are undoubtedly overhyped,
0:13:53 > 0:13:57not least because you'd actually call a collection of jellyfish a bloom,
0:13:57 > 0:14:00it does appear to be the case that jellyfish are being spotted
0:14:00 > 0:14:02more frequently around UK beaches.
0:14:04 > 0:14:06And if one stings you, it can really hurt,
0:14:06 > 0:14:10as Michelle Anderson and her 11-year-old daughter Talisha,
0:14:10 > 0:14:11discovered the hard way.
0:14:11 > 0:14:14They'd been coming to this beach near Colwyn Bay in North Wales
0:14:14 > 0:14:16since Talisha was a baby.
0:14:16 > 0:14:20Talisha loved the water. She'd go and play with her friends,
0:14:20 > 0:14:23brothers and sisters, in the water, splashing around.
0:14:23 > 0:14:26You know, she kind of got used to being in
0:14:26 > 0:14:28the shallower end of the waters
0:14:28 > 0:14:31and then she just sort of ventured further out.
0:14:32 > 0:14:36But in August 2015, Talisha's love of the sea was completely destroyed.
0:14:38 > 0:14:41I first noticed something was wrong when she just let out a huge scream.
0:14:41 > 0:14:45It was different than any other scream we'd heard.
0:14:45 > 0:14:46It was pure agony, rather than,
0:14:46 > 0:14:48"I've just fell over and hurt myself."
0:14:48 > 0:14:51She was struggling to get out of the water.
0:14:51 > 0:14:53She looked like she couldn't move.
0:14:53 > 0:14:55We thought maybe she had her foot caught in a rock or something.
0:14:55 > 0:14:59Michelle and her husband Tim rushed to see what had made their daughter
0:14:59 > 0:15:03cry out, and were shocked by what they found.
0:15:03 > 0:15:04When she stood up,
0:15:04 > 0:15:07there was just a huge jellyfish over the top of her legs.
0:15:07 > 0:15:10It didn't look like any jellyfish I'd ever seen.
0:15:10 > 0:15:13You know, the little jellyfish you see on the beach.
0:15:13 > 0:15:14This was completely different.
0:15:14 > 0:15:17And it was wrapped around both of her legs,
0:15:17 > 0:15:20so we found it very difficult to remove it at first.
0:15:20 > 0:15:24We had to drag her back into the water to try and make
0:15:24 > 0:15:27the jellyfish move a bit more easily so we could untangle her.
0:15:29 > 0:15:32By this point, she was still screaming and it was probably
0:15:32 > 0:15:35even worse, the fact that we were trying to pull them off her.
0:15:35 > 0:15:39Talisha's own memories of that day are still terrifyingly vivid.
0:15:39 > 0:15:43I was really scared at the time cos I didn't know what it was,
0:15:43 > 0:15:46so I was like...
0:15:46 > 0:15:48I tried to run out of the water but it was kind of heavy
0:15:48 > 0:15:50and it was dragging me back.
0:15:50 > 0:15:53I struggled to breathe because of the pain.
0:15:54 > 0:15:57It was clear this was more than just a mild sting.
0:15:57 > 0:16:00So Michelle quickly called an ambulance.
0:16:00 > 0:16:01Her legs were very, very swollen,
0:16:01 > 0:16:04to two or three times the size they were.
0:16:04 > 0:16:07And it looked like she'd had boiling water poured over
0:16:07 > 0:16:11the tops of her legs. They were really red and very hot.
0:16:11 > 0:16:14It took us a long time to try and get her to calm down.
0:16:14 > 0:16:16She went into anaphylactic shock.
0:16:16 > 0:16:19Talisha was suffering a severe reaction
0:16:19 > 0:16:20to the venom from the jellyfish.
0:16:20 > 0:16:23There was nothing... There was nothing else that we could do,
0:16:23 > 0:16:25apart from wait for the ambulance.
0:16:25 > 0:16:29Paramedics arrived at the scene and Talisha was taken to hospital
0:16:29 > 0:16:32for further treatment, including a shot of adrenaline.
0:16:33 > 0:16:35Later, after some research,
0:16:35 > 0:16:37Tim discovered that the most likely culprit
0:16:37 > 0:16:40was the huge lion's mane jellyfish
0:16:40 > 0:16:44which can grow two metres wide and up to 100 metres long.
0:16:44 > 0:16:47When we told the doctor about it,
0:16:47 > 0:16:50he was quite shocked to how big we said it was
0:16:50 > 0:16:53cos he's not used to them being that big.
0:16:53 > 0:16:56He was the one that said it was OK, it wasn't poisonous,
0:16:56 > 0:16:58it was only venomous.
0:16:58 > 0:17:01They gave her morphine to kill the pain,
0:17:01 > 0:17:03they gave her, like, an ibuprofen gel
0:17:03 > 0:17:07to take down the swelling of her legs and to ease the pain.
0:17:08 > 0:17:11The next day, Talisha was well enough to be sent home
0:17:11 > 0:17:14and though the scars on her legs eventually disappeared,
0:17:14 > 0:17:16the psychological impact lives on
0:17:16 > 0:17:19and Talisha is scared to go back into the water.
0:17:19 > 0:17:22When I'm on the beach and I see jellyfish,
0:17:22 > 0:17:26it worries me because I don't know what, like,
0:17:26 > 0:17:30if the tide's going to come in and wash them on to me or something.
0:17:30 > 0:17:34Cos I don't know if they've still got tentacles on or something.
0:17:36 > 0:17:40Last summer, jellyfish around the Welsh coast made headlines again
0:17:40 > 0:17:43when one woman's attempt to become the first person to swim
0:17:43 > 0:17:45nonstop around Anglesey had to be called off
0:17:45 > 0:17:48after she was stung no less than six times.
0:17:50 > 0:17:53And there was the annual rash of headlines warning of
0:17:53 > 0:17:56a rising threat, with reports of the deadly Portuguese man-of-war,
0:17:56 > 0:17:58closely related to the jellyfish,
0:17:58 > 0:18:01being spotted off the south-west coast of England.
0:18:02 > 0:18:05But according to the Marine Conservation Society,
0:18:05 > 0:18:09nowhere along the UK's coast can claim to be jellyfish-free.
0:18:10 > 0:18:13The lion's mane jellyfish, the one that stung Talisha,
0:18:13 > 0:18:16tends to crop up in northern waters around Scotland.
0:18:17 > 0:18:19More common are moon jellyfish,
0:18:19 > 0:18:22to be found pretty much anywhere along the coast.
0:18:22 > 0:18:25Similarly, blue jellyfish are likely to turn up on beaches
0:18:25 > 0:18:28all around the UK.
0:18:28 > 0:18:31But while some experts believe that, rather than there being more
0:18:31 > 0:18:35jellyfish, we've just got better at spotting and recording them,
0:18:35 > 0:18:38others, like conservationist and marine biologist Frankie Hobro,
0:18:38 > 0:18:41believe that, as well as their number is DEFINITELY increasing,
0:18:41 > 0:18:44there is a clear explanation as to why.
0:18:44 > 0:18:47There are a couple of factors contributing to
0:18:47 > 0:18:49the larger numbers of jellyfish on our shores
0:18:49 > 0:18:51and one of those is climate change
0:18:51 > 0:18:53and warmer currents earlier on in the year
0:18:53 > 0:18:55for longer periods during the year
0:18:55 > 0:18:57and obviously those warmer currents are carrying jellyfish
0:18:57 > 0:19:01in larger numbers, they are managing to breed earlier and for longer,
0:19:01 > 0:19:04so you see them in much larger swarms locally
0:19:04 > 0:19:05and around the shores.
0:19:05 > 0:19:08These favourable conditions mean that jellyfish species
0:19:08 > 0:19:10are not only thriving around UK waters,
0:19:10 > 0:19:12but in the Med too,
0:19:12 > 0:19:16where around 150,000 people are treated for stings each year.
0:19:16 > 0:19:18Be careful, jellyfish.
0:19:18 > 0:19:21In fact, so concerned are the authorities
0:19:21 > 0:19:23in French hot spot Cannes, that special precautions
0:19:23 > 0:19:27have been implemented on the beaches, including the use of
0:19:27 > 0:19:30wide anti-jellyfish nets to protect bathers.
0:19:30 > 0:19:33And whilst we haven't seen the kind of numbers
0:19:33 > 0:19:36that would make that necessary here in the UK,
0:19:36 > 0:19:38the Marine Conservation Society is concerned
0:19:38 > 0:19:42that an increase in jellyfish could be a sign of other factors
0:19:42 > 0:19:45that are negatively impacting on our oceans.
0:19:46 > 0:19:49People often ask, are numbers of jellyfish going up in the UK?
0:19:49 > 0:19:51And the short answer is we don't really know.
0:19:51 > 0:19:53What we've found, certainly in the last few years,
0:19:53 > 0:19:56the number of reports to us have gone up.
0:19:56 > 0:19:59Though we can't say that the absolute number of jellyfish
0:19:59 > 0:20:01has gone up but our survey does seem to indicate
0:20:01 > 0:20:03that these days we might be seeing more.
0:20:03 > 0:20:07Increases in jellyfish in different places around the world
0:20:07 > 0:20:11have been linked to climate change, to pollution, to overfishing.
0:20:12 > 0:20:15The good news, however, is that most jellyfish around British shores
0:20:15 > 0:20:19are unlikely to do any more than just sting.
0:20:19 > 0:20:23But the painful irritation that causes is still best avoided.
0:20:23 > 0:20:26So, if you do get stung, there's simple advice on what
0:20:26 > 0:20:29you should do next, which I'm delighted to say
0:20:29 > 0:20:33doesn't include a remedy perpetuated by the TV show, Friends.
0:20:33 > 0:20:37Jellyfish sting. It hurts, it hurts, it hurts!
0:20:37 > 0:20:40- Well, there's really only one thing you can do.- What? What is it?
0:20:40 > 0:20:42You're going to have to pee on it.
0:20:46 > 0:20:49Well, that apparent remedy has become so established that when,
0:20:49 > 0:20:51on a recent TV show,
0:20:51 > 0:20:54adventurer Bear Grylls was stung by a jellyfish,
0:20:54 > 0:20:59former Spice Girl Mel B did the honours in an attempt to help.
0:20:59 > 0:21:01This finger is now getting really quite painful.
0:21:03 > 0:21:06Mel's kindly offered two or three times to provide some urine.
0:21:06 > 0:21:11But I'm afraid her valiant efforts won't have made any difference.
0:21:11 > 0:21:14There is a myth about urinating on a jellyfish sting.
0:21:14 > 0:21:16This doesn't work. It may actually make it worse,
0:21:16 > 0:21:19if so it really isn't advisable. However, there are some things
0:21:19 > 0:21:22that you can do to relieve it instantly
0:21:22 > 0:21:23and in the longer term as well.
0:21:23 > 0:21:25If you haven't got anything at all to hand,
0:21:25 > 0:21:27the best thing is to use sea water
0:21:27 > 0:21:30and to try and rinse the tentacles off.
0:21:30 > 0:21:33Very, very important that you do not get in contact with the tentacles
0:21:33 > 0:21:35at all, yourself, with your skin.
0:21:35 > 0:21:38So anything that you can to cover your skin
0:21:38 > 0:21:42to try not to get stung any further and to try and remove the tentacles.
0:21:43 > 0:21:46It's also a good idea to take a photo of the jellyfish
0:21:46 > 0:21:50that stung you, probably in self-defence by the way, in order
0:21:50 > 0:21:54to help medical staff work out what type of treatment is necessary.
0:21:54 > 0:21:57And there may be another simple way to ease the pain.
0:21:57 > 0:22:00One recent alternative that's been suggested is applying shaving cream
0:22:00 > 0:22:03because this can slow down the release of any further venom
0:22:03 > 0:22:05once it's started to enter the skin.
0:22:05 > 0:22:08And it can also relieve the symptoms from the stings
0:22:08 > 0:22:10that have already entered the skin as well.
0:22:10 > 0:22:12But of course, the best advice
0:22:12 > 0:22:14is to avoid being stung in the first place.
0:22:14 > 0:22:19So, experts like Frankie say it is worth taking heed of any warnings
0:22:19 > 0:22:22that jellyfish have been spotted around a beach
0:22:22 > 0:22:24that you might be visiting.
0:22:24 > 0:22:27It's really important that people don't avoid going in the sea.
0:22:27 > 0:22:31Instead, the simplest thing to make sure you don't get stung
0:22:31 > 0:22:32is to wear a rash vest or a wet suit
0:22:32 > 0:22:35and then if you do come in contact with the tentacles of any jellyfish,
0:22:35 > 0:22:38you wouldn't even notice because they wouldn't be able to sting you
0:22:38 > 0:22:40through those at all.
0:22:40 > 0:22:44Back in Wales, that's exactly what Talisha will be doing once
0:22:44 > 0:22:48she's ready to return to the water but, painful as her ordeal was, she
0:22:48 > 0:22:52now has quite a positive attitude towards jellyfish themselves.
0:22:52 > 0:22:56I don't think they are bad creatures because
0:22:56 > 0:22:58if we're going into their home,
0:22:58 > 0:23:01it's not like jellyfish would like it if they came into our home.
0:23:01 > 0:23:04So it's kind of our fault if we get stung.
0:23:10 > 0:23:13Our travel expert Simon Calder has all the secrets
0:23:13 > 0:23:15to save you money on your travels.
0:23:15 > 0:23:19He's full of tips on everything from how to avoid the crowds
0:23:19 > 0:23:23to the best way to steer clear of those tourist traps.
0:23:23 > 0:23:26This time, Simon has advice on staying safe abroad.
0:23:30 > 0:23:33Recent terror attacks at popular destinations have given
0:23:33 > 0:23:36many holiday-makers an increased fear for their safety.
0:23:36 > 0:23:38But Simon thinks overall,
0:23:38 > 0:23:41travel has never been safer and rather than panic
0:23:41 > 0:23:44or be overcautious, we should make sure that we are up-to-date
0:23:44 > 0:23:47with the official advice on our chosen destination.
0:23:47 > 0:23:50For example, by checking the Foreign and Commonwealth Office website
0:23:50 > 0:23:53in order to make an informed choice.
0:23:54 > 0:23:57You can reduce your risk exposure further
0:23:57 > 0:23:59with a couple of very simple steps.
0:23:59 > 0:24:02Don't hang around land side at airports.
0:24:02 > 0:24:06Drop your bag and then go to and through the security check.
0:24:08 > 0:24:11And I wouldn't linger for too long
0:24:11 > 0:24:16in the lobbies of five-star hotels belonging to Western chains.
0:24:19 > 0:24:22But the risk of being caught up in a terror attack is extremely low.
0:24:22 > 0:24:26And Simon says it's two rather more familiar dangers
0:24:26 > 0:24:30that, statistically, are most likely to affect us when we go away.
0:24:30 > 0:24:33Accidents in water and, of course, road safety.
0:24:35 > 0:24:36As soon as you cross the Channel,
0:24:36 > 0:24:40and leave our relatively benign road network behind,
0:24:40 > 0:24:43dangers escalate rapidly.
0:24:45 > 0:24:49So, for example, I'd never dream of driving the length of France
0:24:49 > 0:24:53to reach the beautiful Cote d'Azur, when I can hop aboard a train
0:24:53 > 0:24:57or a plane and use the excellent and cheap public transport
0:24:57 > 0:24:58when I get there.
0:24:58 > 0:25:02Road safety is a problem in many popular holiday destinations
0:25:02 > 0:25:05and Simon warns against renting a motor scooter
0:25:05 > 0:25:08in islands in countries like Thailand and Greece.
0:25:08 > 0:25:11They've long been one of the biggest causes of accidents abroad.
0:25:11 > 0:25:16Instead, he'd always say cycling is a better and safer way to explore.
0:25:16 > 0:25:20Oh, and always wear a bike helmet.
0:25:20 > 0:25:22Well, not always, obviously.
0:25:22 > 0:25:24Only when you're riding a bike.
0:25:24 > 0:25:27It's not and never will be a risk-free world,
0:25:27 > 0:25:30but the rewards of travel are tremendous.
0:25:37 > 0:25:39Still to come on Rip Off Britain,
0:25:39 > 0:25:42how man's best friend is on the front line
0:25:42 > 0:25:44in the battle against bedbugs.
0:25:44 > 0:25:47So, the dog has taken Adam forward into these seats here.
0:25:47 > 0:25:51You can see that the dog's working all over the front of the seats.
0:25:54 > 0:25:57'The Trafford Centre Manchester is the venue
0:25:57 > 0:26:00'for our latest pop-up advice clinic. Over two days,
0:26:00 > 0:26:04'it's a wonderful opportunity for us to meet as many of you as we can.'
0:26:04 > 0:26:06You are looking so gorgeous. Look at you.
0:26:06 > 0:26:08Yeah, but you should have seen me at half past six this morning.
0:26:08 > 0:26:10It was a very different story.
0:26:10 > 0:26:13'And of course to bring together industry experts
0:26:13 > 0:26:15'to tackle your holiday nightmares.'
0:26:15 > 0:26:17So, I'll get some details from you.
0:26:17 > 0:26:20I'm really glad you dropped this one over, Simon.
0:26:20 > 0:26:24Often, it only takes one thing to ruin your holiday
0:26:24 > 0:26:26and for Lynne O'Malley from Liverpool,
0:26:26 > 0:26:30it was her hotel bed, as she explained to Simon Calder.
0:26:30 > 0:26:33We were told by our holiday company two weeks before we were travelling
0:26:33 > 0:26:36that our original hotel was under refurb.
0:26:36 > 0:26:38- Right.- And they suggested we chose another hotel.
0:26:38 > 0:26:41OK. Just a reminder that if there is building work,
0:26:41 > 0:26:44then the holiday company has to let you know as soon as possible
0:26:44 > 0:26:45and offer you a range of choices.
0:26:45 > 0:26:47Did they also offer you a refund if you wanted that?
0:26:47 > 0:26:50They offered me a full refund or to choose a holiday somewhere else
0:26:50 > 0:26:52or to choose another hotel on the island.
0:26:52 > 0:26:57Rather than cancel their £2,500 holiday to Jamaica,
0:26:57 > 0:27:00Lynn and her husband agreed to switch hotels.
0:27:00 > 0:27:01So, you had a lovely time?
0:27:01 > 0:27:03No, we didn't.
0:27:04 > 0:27:06When we arrived, we were shown...
0:27:06 > 0:27:10Well, the room was OK but we did notice the room was rather grubby.
0:27:10 > 0:27:15- Right.- I pulled back the sheets on the bed and I find this nightmare.
0:27:15 > 0:27:19- This is my mattress...- No!
0:27:19 > 0:27:20- No!- This is my bed throw.
0:27:20 > 0:27:24- No!- Oh, yes.- Oh, dear.
0:27:24 > 0:27:27- This is my bed throw and my mattress.- I don't like to ask.
0:27:27 > 0:27:29I don't like to speculate. I certainly don't want to stay there.
0:27:30 > 0:27:34Once Lynne was home, she went to her travel agents to complain.
0:27:34 > 0:27:36She was told to put it all in writing
0:27:36 > 0:27:38and, as no deadline was given,
0:27:38 > 0:27:40she took her time gathering together her evidence
0:27:40 > 0:27:43before writing a detailed letter and sending it off.
0:27:45 > 0:27:46Then I got this letter,
0:27:46 > 0:27:50which says because I didn't do it within so many days...
0:27:54 > 0:27:57No! This says, "Regrettably,
0:27:57 > 0:27:59"as it now been over 28 days since you returned home
0:27:59 > 0:28:02"we are sorry we are unable to offer any form of compensation
0:28:02 > 0:28:05"on this occasion."
0:28:05 > 0:28:07- They are having a laugh! - Well, they really are.
0:28:07 > 0:28:10It sounds to me as though you had a pretty lousy holiday.
0:28:10 > 0:28:11Yes, I did, yes.
0:28:11 > 0:28:14Well, Lynn wasn't taking this lying down,
0:28:14 > 0:28:17so she posted a scathing review of her experience online,
0:28:17 > 0:28:20prompting the holiday company to get back in touch,
0:28:20 > 0:28:24saying it had looked into her case and contacted the hotel.
0:28:24 > 0:28:27But there was still no offer of compensation,
0:28:27 > 0:28:29as Lynn felt there should be.
0:28:29 > 0:28:34Now, there is absolutely nothing to stop you going to court,
0:28:34 > 0:28:36going to Money Claims Online,
0:28:36 > 0:28:39saying, "I want some compensation for this holiday."
0:28:39 > 0:28:46The trouble is, I'm not sure exactly what sort of sum you have in mind,
0:28:46 > 0:28:50or why you feel you deserve it because you had a lousy holiday
0:28:50 > 0:28:51and I'm really sorry about that.
0:28:51 > 0:28:54Lousy holidays happen for a whole range of reasons.
0:28:54 > 0:28:58But I can't see from the evidence
0:28:58 > 0:29:02I've got that there is a breach of the package travel regulations,
0:29:02 > 0:29:05which means that you didn't get what you paid for.
0:29:05 > 0:29:09Even so, Simon reckons it's worth Lynne having one final go.
0:29:09 > 0:29:13I would write one more letter to them.
0:29:13 > 0:29:18- Yes.- Where they say 28 days, I would say well, hang on,
0:29:18 > 0:29:19we went into the shop,
0:29:19 > 0:29:22we were told something by your staff that contradicts that.
0:29:22 > 0:29:25- Yes.- So therefore, please, reopen our case.
0:29:25 > 0:29:28You might not get any compensation, you might get the satisfaction
0:29:28 > 0:29:31of somebody actually taking your issues seriously.
0:29:31 > 0:29:33Sorry goes an awful long way.
0:29:33 > 0:29:35Sorry goes an awful long way.
0:29:37 > 0:29:39Now, if things go wrong on your holiday,
0:29:39 > 0:29:42the travel company may well be to blame.
0:29:42 > 0:29:45But some things are very much your responsibility,
0:29:45 > 0:29:48like making sure your passport is valid.
0:29:48 > 0:29:51So, Simon and I wanted to see if shoppers
0:29:51 > 0:29:53were up to speed on this one.
0:29:55 > 0:29:57Have you ever had any problem with passports?
0:29:57 > 0:30:00Have you ever suddenly thought, "My passport's run out?"
0:30:00 > 0:30:03Well, we've just been on holiday actually.
0:30:03 > 0:30:04About three weeks ago,
0:30:04 > 0:30:06and I realised three weeks before we were travelling
0:30:06 > 0:30:09that I had to renew my passport.
0:30:09 > 0:30:11- How did you go about doing that? - I did it online.
0:30:11 > 0:30:15- Was it OK?- Yeah, it wasn't too bad. It came quite quickly actually.
0:30:15 > 0:30:18Because although I had to check online whether Dubai was one of the
0:30:18 > 0:30:21countries where you have to have six months' validity...
0:30:21 > 0:30:23Exactly. You know about this. You're way ahead of the game!
0:30:23 > 0:30:25I don't know about this. Tell me.
0:30:25 > 0:30:29OK, well, a number of countries will stipulate anything from
0:30:29 > 0:30:32that you must have a day remaining on your passport to,
0:30:32 > 0:30:34in the case of Dubai, six months.
0:30:34 > 0:30:36That also applies to Egypt.
0:30:36 > 0:30:39Some countries, it's six months from the day you enter the country.
0:30:39 > 0:30:42Others, it's six months from the day you leave.
0:30:42 > 0:30:45And if you're going anywhere outside Europe,
0:30:45 > 0:30:47you always have to check what the rules are.
0:30:47 > 0:30:49How did you find out?
0:30:49 > 0:30:53I checked online and it said that there's certain countries
0:30:53 > 0:30:56that have to have the six months' validity on it.
0:30:56 > 0:30:58Today and every day,
0:30:58 > 0:31:00there will be people turning up at Manchester Airport, Heathrow,
0:31:00 > 0:31:03or whatever, going to Dubai and other places,
0:31:03 > 0:31:06who are turned away because they simply are not eligible
0:31:06 > 0:31:08for entry to the country.
0:31:08 > 0:31:11It's really important to understand about renewing
0:31:11 > 0:31:13passports in good time.
0:31:13 > 0:31:18If, for example, my passport expires in November 2023,
0:31:18 > 0:31:23if I renew it in February 2023,
0:31:23 > 0:31:26then you get full credit for all the unexpired bits,
0:31:26 > 0:31:30so the renewed one will be valid until, my goodness me,
0:31:30 > 0:31:32November 2033.
0:31:32 > 0:31:35Simon, supposing you are one of those people who
0:31:35 > 0:31:37- more-or-less the day before is doing their packing...- Oh!
0:31:37 > 0:31:39..gets out their passport and thinks,
0:31:39 > 0:31:41"Oh, my Lord, the passport's running out."
0:31:41 > 0:31:44How quickly can you go and get a passport?
0:31:44 > 0:31:48You can in some circumstances get one the same day.
0:31:48 > 0:31:52What you'll need to do though is find the passport office number
0:31:52 > 0:31:55for appointments, you phone them up and you say, it is absolutely
0:31:55 > 0:31:59essential that I get my passport renewed tomorrow before my flight.
0:31:59 > 0:32:03They will possibly give you an appointment at a passport office.
0:32:03 > 0:32:06You need to turn up with the form filled in, with your photos,
0:32:06 > 0:32:10with every bit of information that is possibly required.
0:32:10 > 0:32:13They will hopefully give you an appointment, and they'll say,
0:32:13 > 0:32:15"Right, OK, come back in three hours' time,"
0:32:15 > 0:32:18and then you'll get your brand-new passport.
0:32:18 > 0:32:21- Go home, check your passport date. - Yes.- Please!
0:32:25 > 0:32:27Earlier in the programme, we heard how one viewer was sharing
0:32:27 > 0:32:29her accommodation with bedbugs.
0:32:30 > 0:32:33It seems the tiny little pests really are back with a vengeance.
0:32:33 > 0:32:35But help is at hand.
0:32:35 > 0:32:38There's a whole industry springing up to deal with
0:32:38 > 0:32:40the problem and front of the queue to tackle it
0:32:40 > 0:32:42are some big-name hotels and airlines.
0:32:42 > 0:32:46So meet the sniffer dogs, fighting to keep the bugs at bay.
0:32:47 > 0:32:51You might assume that this emergency response team has been sent
0:32:51 > 0:32:54to search this plane for explosives.
0:32:55 > 0:32:58In fact, they're looking for something else.
0:33:01 > 0:33:03It's not bombs they're sniffing out...
0:33:05 > 0:33:07..it's bedbugs.
0:33:08 > 0:33:09Good boy.
0:33:09 > 0:33:12Charlie the chocolate Labrador is on the front line
0:33:12 > 0:33:14in the war on bedbugs.
0:33:14 > 0:33:17He is one of an army of sniffer dogs deployed across the UK
0:33:17 > 0:33:20to tackle the rising number of infestations.
0:33:21 > 0:33:25And handler Peter Bowers-Davis says companies that use dogs like Charlie
0:33:25 > 0:33:28are much in demand.
0:33:28 > 0:33:30We've probably seen a 50% to 100% increase in enquiries
0:33:30 > 0:33:33through us for the use of our detection dogs
0:33:33 > 0:33:35and our eradication methods for bedbugs,
0:33:35 > 0:33:38which does indicate it is a rising problem in the UK.
0:33:40 > 0:33:43And it's aeroplanes that have played a key part
0:33:43 > 0:33:45in the recent rapid spread of bedbugs.
0:33:46 > 0:33:49In many cases, they'll have hitched a ride on someone's bags
0:33:49 > 0:33:52or carry-on luggage and they can spread fast in close proximity
0:33:52 > 0:33:55to other travellers and their belongings.
0:33:56 > 0:33:59This plane is a disused one in Leicester,
0:33:59 > 0:34:02so it's the perfect place for dogs like Charlie to hone their skills,
0:34:02 > 0:34:07picking up the bugs' very faint but distinct scent.
0:34:07 > 0:34:09One of the reasons why we are doing this training exercise
0:34:09 > 0:34:13on an aircraft is because bedbugs will get anywhere
0:34:13 > 0:34:16where people are spending a number of hours,
0:34:16 > 0:34:20sleeping, resting, not just on the bed,
0:34:20 > 0:34:24but trains, aircraft, buses.
0:34:24 > 0:34:27Inside these containers are hundreds of live bedbugs,
0:34:27 > 0:34:31which will be placed on board the old plane for the dogs to find.
0:34:31 > 0:34:34So, what we're going to do is go up onto the aircraft,
0:34:34 > 0:34:36hide the three samples,
0:34:36 > 0:34:40give it a couple of minutes to vent and let the scent start to rise
0:34:40 > 0:34:42and then let the dogs go and search.
0:34:43 > 0:34:47On a plane, bedbugs will find a number of hiding places
0:34:47 > 0:34:49within the fabric of the aircraft.
0:34:49 > 0:34:52Under the headrest and even within the magazine rack.
0:34:54 > 0:34:56This is a favourite place for the bedbugs,
0:34:56 > 0:34:59due to their attraction to CO2,
0:34:59 > 0:35:01which is what you breathe out,
0:35:01 > 0:35:03especially when you're asleep.
0:35:03 > 0:35:06So, all the samples are now out
0:35:06 > 0:35:09and we're ready to let the dogs come on and find them.
0:35:14 > 0:35:19It's time to unleash Charlie to see if he can find the little bloodsuckers.
0:35:19 > 0:35:21He's been doing it for over seven years,
0:35:21 > 0:35:23so this should be a walk in the park.
0:35:24 > 0:35:28So, the dog has taken Adam forward into these seats here.
0:35:28 > 0:35:32You can see that the dog's working all over the front of the seats.
0:35:32 > 0:35:35Charlie makes a beeline straight for the back row
0:35:35 > 0:35:37and seems to have sniffed something out.
0:35:37 > 0:35:42There he is. He's just located the sample and he's got his reward,
0:35:42 > 0:35:44which is his tennis ball.
0:35:45 > 0:35:48Bedbugs may be small but thanks to his nose,
0:35:48 > 0:35:51Charlie has no problem finding them.
0:35:53 > 0:35:58Pest control companies like Peter's are routinely employed by airlines
0:35:58 > 0:36:00to check the planes currently in service.
0:36:00 > 0:36:03If they find bugs, the airlines use various kinds of
0:36:03 > 0:36:06heat treatment or chemical pesticides, while trying to keep
0:36:06 > 0:36:09their planes on the ground for as little time as possible.
0:36:11 > 0:36:15But Dr James Logan from the London School Of Hygiene And Tropical Medicine
0:36:15 > 0:36:19says it's usually down to us that the creatures got on board in the first place.
0:36:19 > 0:36:24So it seems we're all to blame for the booming bedbug population.
0:36:24 > 0:36:27One of the things about bedbugs is that they're incredibly good
0:36:27 > 0:36:30hitchhikers, so they're designed to be able to cling onto us,
0:36:30 > 0:36:33to our clothing, and hide there or in our luggage.
0:36:33 > 0:36:36So, if you've stayed in a hotel, for example,
0:36:36 > 0:36:38that has a bedbug infestation
0:36:38 > 0:36:41or you might even have one in your home,
0:36:41 > 0:36:44you can quite easily take one of those bedbugs with you
0:36:44 > 0:36:47onto the plane, they come out in the plane and, you know,
0:36:47 > 0:36:51planes are full of nice little crevices and cracks
0:36:51 > 0:36:53that they can hide in, so it's a perfect place for them
0:36:53 > 0:36:55to sort of have a bit of a stopover.
0:36:55 > 0:36:58So, time to get up close and personal with a bedbug.
0:36:58 > 0:37:01Look away now if you're starting to itch.
0:37:01 > 0:37:03- So, you're willing to do this?- Yes.
0:37:03 > 0:37:05- You're happy?- Yeah, I'm ready.- Yeah?
0:37:05 > 0:37:07I've got some hungry bugs here.
0:37:07 > 0:37:09They're male. Do you have a preference for which bug?
0:37:09 > 0:37:11- We've got two here.- I don't mind.
0:37:11 > 0:37:15- That one looks good.- So, if you can roll your sleeve up,
0:37:15 > 0:37:17what we'll do is we'll just pop this bedbug on.
0:37:17 > 0:37:19The bugs are drawn to human blood
0:37:19 > 0:37:22and can consume three times their own body weight
0:37:22 > 0:37:24in a single feed.
0:37:24 > 0:37:26Do you feel it when they bite you?
0:37:26 > 0:37:28I know it's happening because I can see it,
0:37:28 > 0:37:31but I don't think I can feel anything.
0:37:31 > 0:37:34- OK, so it's kind of like psychological...- Psychological.
0:37:34 > 0:37:37Yeah. Cos the thing about bedbugs is that, when they bite you,
0:37:37 > 0:37:41they produce saliva and the saliva contains a sort of anaesthetic
0:37:41 > 0:37:43and an anticoagulant, so it stops the blood from clotting
0:37:43 > 0:37:45but it also means that you can't feel it,
0:37:45 > 0:37:49which is why when you get bitten by hundreds of bedbugs in your bed,
0:37:49 > 0:37:52you don't wake up and you don't know about it until the next day.
0:37:52 > 0:37:56Sneaky. Fellow scientist Lucy has no adverse reaction
0:37:56 > 0:38:00to her new friend but some people will suffer painful and itchy rashes
0:38:00 > 0:38:02as a result of an infestation.
0:38:02 > 0:38:04A lot of people, including myself, you know,
0:38:04 > 0:38:06I react really badly to bedbug bites
0:38:06 > 0:38:08and my bite would come up straightaway.
0:38:08 > 0:38:11I know straightaway that I've been bitten by a bedbug.
0:38:11 > 0:38:14And then over the course of about a week,
0:38:14 > 0:38:17that bite on me turns into a bruise
0:38:17 > 0:38:19and, you know, if that's just one bite,
0:38:19 > 0:38:23if you imagine being bitten hundreds and hundreds of times by bedbugs,
0:38:23 > 0:38:27across your whole body, you know, that can be really quite severe.
0:38:27 > 0:38:29So some people are not quite as lucky as you are.
0:38:29 > 0:38:32Meanwhile, aeroplanes aren't the only part of the travel industry
0:38:32 > 0:38:36where the services of sniffer dogs are increasingly being required.
0:38:36 > 0:38:39Today in Wimbledon a dog named Basil
0:38:39 > 0:38:44is putting his bedbug training into practice. He's visiting a hotel,
0:38:44 > 0:38:47the sort of place that could be not just a perfect breeding ground
0:38:47 > 0:38:50but the start of a bedbug's travels.
0:38:51 > 0:38:52Hello, maintenance.
0:38:57 > 0:39:00Basil will work his way around the room.
0:39:00 > 0:39:02We allow him to lead the search
0:39:02 > 0:39:05because his sense of smell is so acute.
0:39:05 > 0:39:09In this sort of a room configuration, we would expect...
0:39:11 > 0:39:14..if there are bedbugs in this room for it to be
0:39:14 > 0:39:17surrounding the headboard and the bedside cabinets.
0:39:17 > 0:39:21It's only around 10% of infestations occur on the mattress.
0:39:21 > 0:39:25The rest of the infestation will be bed bases, headboard,
0:39:25 > 0:39:27around skirtings, light fittings, etc.
0:39:27 > 0:39:31Basil hasn't found any bedbugs here and he'll return in a month
0:39:31 > 0:39:35to check nothing's changed. Because for the owner, Jay,
0:39:35 > 0:39:39sniffer dogs have become a vital part of keeping a hotel clean.
0:39:39 > 0:39:42He knows how much damage an infestation could cause.
0:39:43 > 0:39:47It will affect the reputation of the hotel because customers
0:39:47 > 0:39:52could easily put some bad reviews on, you know, review sites,
0:39:52 > 0:39:55TripAdvisor or whatever, and that can have a knock-on effect
0:39:55 > 0:39:59for future business but more importantly, immediately,
0:39:59 > 0:40:02we would have to close out or shut down,
0:40:02 > 0:40:06and then the financial cost of placing or finding accommodation
0:40:06 > 0:40:11for the guests that are affected could run into £3,000 to £5,000,
0:40:11 > 0:40:13as well as the closure of the hotel.
0:40:13 > 0:40:18So, it's a situation that you really do not want to face.
0:40:20 > 0:40:25So, when you go on holiday, how can you be sure your hotel is bug free?
0:40:26 > 0:40:29One of the telltale signs is that they produce a smell.
0:40:29 > 0:40:32So, once they've fed on you, they will poo.
0:40:32 > 0:40:34And they quite often poo on your bedsheets.
0:40:34 > 0:40:37But they will also poo back in their sort of safe refuge,
0:40:37 > 0:40:40when they get back into behind the skirting board
0:40:40 > 0:40:42or under the mattress.
0:40:42 > 0:40:45So if you can smell a sort of musty smell in a hotel room,
0:40:45 > 0:40:46there might be bedbugs there.
0:40:46 > 0:40:50But also look out for little brown blood spots on your bedsheets.
0:40:50 > 0:40:53The chances of seeing the bugs is very slim.
0:40:53 > 0:40:54You might see a dead one.
0:40:54 > 0:40:57Or if you're sitting up with a torch at night,
0:40:57 > 0:40:59you might see some bugs crawling around,
0:40:59 > 0:41:00but they only come out at night.
0:41:00 > 0:41:04But there are simple ways you can minimise the risk of taking
0:41:04 > 0:41:07any bedbugs home with you. In a hotel room,
0:41:07 > 0:41:10the best advice is never put your bag on the floor,
0:41:10 > 0:41:13from where they can easily climb into it.
0:41:13 > 0:41:15Keep it on the luggage racks and fully zipped up.
0:41:15 > 0:41:20And on a plane, one tip is to secure any carry-on luggage you might
0:41:20 > 0:41:22put under your seat inside a plastic bag.
0:41:23 > 0:41:26Although, of course, with any luck, those sniffer dogs
0:41:26 > 0:41:29will have already made sure there aren't any bugs around.
0:41:30 > 0:41:31And back in Leicester,
0:41:31 > 0:41:35it's the success of ongoing training, like today's session,
0:41:35 > 0:41:38that could determine if your future holiday will be free
0:41:38 > 0:41:40from the menace of bedbugs.
0:41:40 > 0:41:42So, we finished the training session.
0:41:42 > 0:41:45It's gone very well. The dogs have been successful and Storm,
0:41:45 > 0:41:48the operational dog, has had a tremendous find,
0:41:48 > 0:41:51actually in the infrastructure of the aircraft.
0:41:51 > 0:41:54So all in all, I'm really happy. It's gone very well.
0:42:02 > 0:42:04If you've got a story you'd like us to investigate
0:42:04 > 0:42:07then get in touch with us via our Facebook page...
0:42:09 > 0:42:11..our website...
0:42:14 > 0:42:16..or e-mail us at...
0:42:19 > 0:42:23..or if you want to send us a letter, then our new address is...
0:42:34 > 0:42:38I don't know about you but I am literally itching all over
0:42:38 > 0:42:39after seeing those bedbugs.
0:42:39 > 0:42:42But I thought they were pretty much a thing of the past
0:42:42 > 0:42:45or at least more common only in hot climates like this.
0:42:45 > 0:42:48So I was really surprised and a bit worried to hear that
0:42:48 > 0:42:51they're on the increase closer to home. I don't like it, do you?
0:42:51 > 0:42:52No, that's really bad news, I think.
0:42:52 > 0:42:56But at least now you know what to do to keep away from them.
0:42:56 > 0:42:59Just keep your luggage off the floor when you're away.
0:42:59 > 0:43:02And that should at least help to lessen the risk of you
0:43:02 > 0:43:04carrying any of them back home. I have to say,
0:43:04 > 0:43:07they are most definitely not the kind of souvenir
0:43:07 > 0:43:09- that I want to bring back.- No way.
0:43:09 > 0:43:12Anyway, that's certainly a top tip but for me,
0:43:12 > 0:43:15today's standout fact was hearing that the old wives' tale
0:43:15 > 0:43:19on how to treat a jellyfish sting with pee isn't true.
0:43:19 > 0:43:23So there's no need to add embarrassment to agony in future.
0:43:23 > 0:43:26And on that delightful note, it's time for us to leave you.
0:43:26 > 0:43:29We'll be back very soon with more of your stories but, until then,
0:43:29 > 0:43:32- from all of us, goodbye. - Bye-bye.- Goodbye.