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Flies tend to be more of a nuisance in summer, but they actually start becoming active earlier in the year as they begin laying eggs in late April, once the temperatures begin to rise. It is so common to see them at this time of year that in the UK, black flies are often called St Mark's flies, as they tend to appear around the saint's day on April 25.

Many people spray chemical insect repellents throughout their home to keep flies away, but they will just keep coming back because they are attracted to the residue in rubbish bins. Rubbish tends to be a lot damper than people realise, and when that moisture evaporates, the residue simply builds up in the bin and creates a smell that flies can detect from a distance. Bins, whether the household one or the wheelie bin outside, tend to be a lot smellier than humans realise, and flies like to breed inside them because the rubbish is an easy food source for them.

Households need to be aware that flies can lay about 150 eggs at one time, which then hatch within 24 hours, so a maggot infestation can quickly develop at this time of year.

However, Rose Pogoy from Lomi, a waste sustainability company, has shared that one of the best ways to prevent flies is to simply stop using plastic rubbish bags.

She explained: "Plastic garbage bags are known to trap evaporated moisture from rotting food, providing the moist conditions that flies love."

It might sound bizarre, but any leftover moisture from food, cans, or other rubbish can get stuck inside plastic and build up into a moist environment that flies need for laying eggs.

Flies have a much more sensitive sense of smell than humans, and the wet residue trapped inside a plastic bag is often what encourages flies to come into a home.

If you want to keep flies away throughout spring and summer, then switch to biodegradable rubbish bags, as they are more porous, so any waste smells evaporate quickly.

Getting rid of plastic bags will help keep your bin dry and make it less appealing to flies that need somewhere warm and wet to lay their eggs.

It is also useful to line the bottom of a bin with newspaper or cardboard if you have any in your home, as it keeps it as dry as possible, so you do not have to deep-clean it.

Rose added: "As another way to keep your garbage drier and fly-free, newspapers can be lined at the bottom of the trash bin. They'll soak up moisture and make it easier to clean the bin."

It might sound too easy, but just changing the rubbish bags you buy and taking two minutes to line the bottom of a bin is the most effective way to prevent flies from being a menace throughout the warmer months.