RESIDENTS are urged to be “ticks aware”.

Hampshire County Council (HCC) is warning residents over the dangers of ticks and are urging residents to be careful especially when walking in wooded areas.

The tiny insects, which can transmit bacteria such as Lyme disease, can be found throughout the year but are most active between spring and autumn. They are typically found in woodland, grassland, moorland or heathland but are also found in urban parks and gardens.

Now HCC has issued a series of advice to walkers in areas known to have a high tick population such as the New Forest.

Residents are urged to:

• Wear appropriate clothing (a long-sleeve shirt and trousers tucked into your socks)

• Use an insect repellent

• Wear light coloured fabrics that may help spot a tick on your clothes

• Inspect your skin for ticks, particularly at the end of the day, including your head, neck and skin folds (armpits, groin and waistband)

• Check your children’s head and neck areas, including their scalp (skin on top of their head)

• Check that pets do not bring ticks into your home in their fur.

If bitten by a tick, residents are urged to remove it by using a pair of fine-tipped tweezers, or an easy-to-use device which can be purchased from pharmacies or vets. Then:

• Grasp the tick as close to the skin as possible. Pull upwards slowly and firmly, as mouthparts left in the skin can cause a local infection;

• Once removed, apply antiseptic to the bite area and keep an eye on it for several weeks for any changes;

• Contact your GP if you begin to feel unwell or develop a circular red skin rash, often described as a bull’s-eye rash.