Convents and hostels along the route to the north-western Spanish city of Santiago de Compostela have become infested by bedbugs, spread by the more than 100,000 pilgrims who travel to the shrine of St James every year.

The insects, which bury themselves deep inside mattresses and pillows in the pilgrims’ quarters, are causing untold numbers of travellers to have sleepless nights and are responsible for many falling ill on the way.

Tags: Bedbug plague