THE wet summer has brought one unwelcome visitor in record numbers - the slug.

East Lancashire has seen an estimated 50 per cent increase in the slug population thanks to the damp weather providing them with perfect conditions.

It is one of the highest rates in the country.

And the problem could be set to mushroom as the slugs are set to lay up to 100 eggs each in the autumn.

As gardeners battle the increased numbers of slugs, which feed on plants and can eat up to twice their body weight a day, garden centres have reported rocketing sales of slug pellets.

Ron Freethy, the Lancashire Telegraph's nature writer said: "Slugs don't like dry weather, so this wet and warm summer is perfect for them.

"As gardeners well know they eat any type of vegetation so they are seen as a pest."

Ron gave a few tips to help gardeners control the slugs.

He said: "Get a pet hedgehog - they eat them up like there's no tomorrow!

"It is also important that slug pellets are used rather than chemicals as they can kill many other insects and animals.

"One humane way to capture them to put half a lemon, orange or grapefruit in the garden with the insides taken out and the slugs will crawl into them."

Mary Ellis, who owns Lakeside Garden Centre in Foulridge and has been gardening for 30 years, also said there were natural solutions. She said: "I am not surprised about the increase in slugs with the damp weather.

"There is another control people can use. It works by putting micro-organisms into the soil and this stops the slugs from breeding so they will die off." Barbara Gaynor of Beechwood Garden Centre, Roman Road, Blackburn, said: "We have sold much more slug pellets than usual, as we have had lots of customers coming in and complaining of slugs, and snails, destroying plants.

"We ensure we have slug pellets down at the centre as soon as it is damp as the wet weather brings them out."

The increase of the slug population was detailed by The Bayer CropScience Group which said East Lancashire was one of the worst affected areas.

Dr Bill Lankford said: "A network of sampling sites across the UK help advise growers on the threat of slugs. Most sites have seen slug numbers more than double and Lancashire is at the top end of the English samples."