Wasps are going on stinging rampages because they're getting drunk on rotten fruit and booze.

Waspish wasps sting the nation

Waspish wasps sting the nation

Britain has seen an infestation of the 'lager lout' insects which became intoxicated on fermented fruit and small amounts of alcohol.

As their source of food dries up this time of year, the stingers are genetically hardwired to go for any fruit - decaying or not.

Shane, who runs Ridtek Pest Control based in Basingstoke, told the Metro newspaper: ''They are really aggressive at this time of year.

''And because of the cold winter, the wasp season started about six weeks earlier.

''Wasps have built absolutely massive nests and, now that all the larvae have grown up and the queen has stopped laying eggs, the colonies have a workforce with nothing to do - and nothing to eat.''