Government wins termite war

Like all good alien invasion tales, this one began in the suburbs of a sleepy town, where strange tappings and the creaking of timbers led to the horrific discovery of a massively destructive and potentially uncontrollable force.

Local enforcement agents tried to destroy it. But it only grew and invaded yet another home. Finally top scientists were called in, who proposed the use of a new and deadly biological weapon which targets the young of this monstrous force.

Seven years on, the government has announced that it has won the battle... for now. Which is good news for the residents of Saunton, Devon, where the alien force landed in 1994 in a potted plant brought from the Mediterranean. And even better news for timber frame housebuilders across the land, because the alien is Reticulitermes Lucifugus, commonly known as the subterranean termite.

After a three year eradication programme which involved the use for the first time of a powerful growth inhibitor, hexaflumuron, and constant monitoring of the site by a team of top experts, a triumphant Dr Alan Whitehead, minister for local government, announced this week that there has been no sign of termite activity at Saunton for a year. But he warned that the war was not over.

He said: "When we announced this programme in 1998 we made it clear that monitoring would continue in the affected area for 10 years after the last termite activity was detected. This should ensure that no pockets of termite activity go undiscovered."