A DUNFERMLINE resident said he is having to fork out for nights in hotels after a bed bug infestation in his council flat.

Bernard Carr said he has been "bitten to hell" since moving into a scatter flat at Broomhead Drive last year.

He said the bites have recently made his face swell up while he suffers constant bites over the rest of his body.

"It is an absolute nightmare," he told the Press. "They put me in there for a scatter flat. I am bitten to hell with the bed bugs. My face was bitten and swollen. My kids cannot come to stay with me, it has been a nightmare. I just want something done. I just want to see my kids"

Mr Carr said he has been into the City Chambers in Dunfermline and complained to staff but nothing has been done to help.

He continued: "I have been in to complain four times. I have got to do a deep clean and had to get rid of all my clothes. I have nothing left. I got a phone call saying if it is bed bugs, they can't deal with that. You have to have a private company in to deal with it but it is a council property.

"I spoke to a few people in the flats and they have the same problem. It is everywhere.

"Because of my health, I cannot work at the moment. The money I get, I have to book myself into hotels to get a sleep. I am not sleeping. I feel like they are biting me all the time. My arms are covered and my legs are covered."

Fife Council's housing manager Lynne Johnston: "As a council we are responsible for providing tenants with safe, warm and affordable homes.

"We are also happy to help and support our tenants with a wide range of issues. If a tenant reports an infestation in one of our properties there are a number of things we can do to help including deep cleaning, fumigation and advice on high temperature washing.

"We have investigated properties at Broomhead flats and found no evidence of any infestation.

"We'll continue to monitor the situation and would ask any tenants with particular issues to get in touch with their housing officer."