Mum's horror after finding bedbugs crawling in son's bedsheets at Butlins

27 October 2023 , 20:46

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A family's visit to Butlin's in Skegness turned into a trauma (Image: Sunday Mirror)

A horrified mother says she was forced abandon a family break to Butlin's after claiming she discovered a bedbug infestation - and then had to throw away their suitcases.

Rebecca Horgan was visiting the resort in Skegness with her five-year-old son as well as her parents. After checking into their 'gold' apartment, the 36-year-old said their accommodation was "really dirty" but worse was soon to come for the parent. Things became too much after the compliance manager discovered what she says was a bed bug as she checked on her son in the middle of the night - after seeing more in other rooms. They stayed for two nights before Ms Horgan said they had all had enough and left early on the Sunday.

The mum says she found bed-bugs dotted around their 'gold' apartment (stock photo) (Getty Images/iStockphoto)

The pests are on the rise in the UK, with data released by Rentokil last month finding there had been a 65% increase in infestations from 2022 to 2023. They are rumoured to have spread from Paris, which has seen plagues of bed bugs being reported in schools, hospitals and cinemas.

She told the BBC: "I got back into bed to find a large, adult bedbug on the white pillowcase - on pulling back the duvet there were many more in the sheets. These had not been visible in the daytime and they were also on the bedframe and had invaded my son's suitcase."

The mum said the family had to throw away their cases when they returned home as well as some items of clothing. She also stated that Butlin's refused to compensate the family for what they had to chuck away. She went on: "I've been waking in the night thinking I have them crawling on my bed at home. No-one came to help us or see if we were OK despite my obvious distress."

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A Butlin's spokesperson said: "We're very sorry to hear about Rebecca and her family's recent experience on resort. We have been in direct contact with the family to offer a gesture of goodwill and since being made aware, we have fully treated the unit of accommodation.

"We want to reassure guests that we have strict cleaning and hygiene policies in place, including the identification and subsequent treatment for preventing bedbugs." The company have offered to refund the cost of the apartment and for the family's dining during their two-day stay.

Bedbugs hide in mattresses, emerging at night to bite and feed on human blood, and can be spread unwittingly after latching on to clothes and luggage. Usually there is an uptick in the insects in the summer months, as more people are likely to be travelling around. The return of international travel following the coronavirus pandemic is also believed to be a partial factor behind the increase.

Sam Elliott-Gibbs