Fight back by taking a daily dose of 500mg of vitamin B1, starting two weeks before you leave these shores, and maintaining this daily dose throughout your holiday. This really will stop mosquitoes from biting in the first place.

One of the best topical botanical creams to use as your second line of defence is Alfresco Anti-Insect Moisturiser, which contains the herbs lavender, geranium and melissa. It not only works, but smells better than Deet. For more details and to find stockists visit www.alfresco.uk.com

We read this a couple of years ago in a National Newspaper letters page and have tried this out on more than one occasion. It does work.