‘I live with thousands of ladybirds every winter’

Droves of the spotted bugs land on Patrick Jones’s house’s south-facing wall after sunlight has warmed it at this time of year.

Mr Jones, 65, said the insects have hibernated in cracks in his home, in Hocken Mead, Pound Hill, every winter since he moved in more than 30 years ago.

He said: “I love all things to do with insects, animals and plant life.

“I can never find them when I look around.

“When you come across them it’s a surprise.

“Obviously if it was wasps you wouldn’t like it but ladybirds - everybody seems to like ladybirds.”

Mr Jones, who drove minicabs in Crawley for 30 years until 2012, and was known for singing to his passengers, said: “I used to make records and sing to passengers when I was driving.

“If today was a very sunny day then the wall would heat outside the house.

“Sometimes you can see a swarm of them coming over.

“Last year I lifted up the dustbin lid and there were thousands around inside the dustbin lid itself.”

He appealed for people to identify the species of a white ladybird (pictured) he believes could be a new species.

He added that he was concerned the number of ladybirds were down this year.