HOUSEHOLDERS who want a wasps' nest removed could be stung for anything up to £70 by their local council.

A survey by The Northern Echo has revealed a wide range of charges for removal of wasps' nests from private properties.

Those lucky enough to live in the Easington and Sedgefield districts can have the nests removed from gardens and homes for free.

However, Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council charges £70. Newcastle and Darlington are the next most expensive in the region, charging £57 and £56.18 respectively.

When the Echo contacted Redcar and Cleveland Council to ask about its charges, a receptionist said: "You might be better off looking in the Yellow Pages to see if you can find a company that does it cheaper."

However, a spokesman for the authority described the service as "competitively priced".

He said: "They are highly-trained staff who have already removed about a dozen nests this year."

A handful of councils offered reductions for those on benefits, while most said there would be no charge for anyone living in local authority-owned properties.

Steve Jones, a spokesman for Darlington Borough Council, defended its £56 charge.

He said: "We aim to remove nests, if at all possible, within 24 hours of receiving a call.

"If you called a private pest control firm there would be a charge, and we charge like any other business would."

A spokesman for Durham City Council said: "The charge is £30 including VAT.

"Nests can be a problem, obviously, and if they are deemed to be dangerous, we will act on the complaint received."

Householders are advised not to try and remove a wasps nest without professional help.

Last month, a man accidentally set fire to the roof of his home in Norton, Stockton, while trying to use an aerosol and a lighter to destroy a wasps' nest.