A DAY at the seaside could result in catching more than the sun this year.

Brown tail moth caterpillars are believed to have struck again leaving three women and two little girls with their bodies covered by an itchy rash after a day at the beach.

Amanda, 35, and her husband Richard Eames, 39, from Littledown have owned a beach hut near Fisherman’s Walk for more than a year and enjoy going to the seaside with their daughter, six-year-old Sophie.

The family spent the weekend at the beach in Southbourne with friends.

On Sunday Amanda noticed that she had a rash all over her torso, neck and legs.

She told the Echo: “I’ve attended my doctor before with a rash, he wasn’t sure what it was, once I needed antibiotics because the rash became infected.

“This time the rash was particularly bad, I spent a really uncomfortable night, now Sophia has the rash on the back of her legs.

“I didn’t see caterpillars over the weekend but I have on other occasions near our beach hut.”

Richard Eames, 39, an O2 sales trainer, said: “We enjoy going to the beach and using the hut. But my wife has had this rash quite a few times and now some of our friends have it, including their little girl. ”

The caterpillars, which are brown, hairy and about 3cm long, are usually found close to beaches.

They feed on plants, including brambles.

Seafront manager for Bournemouth Council, Chris Saunders, said: “ It is fairly common to find the caterpillars in the warmer months. In April we removed their nests and destroyed the brambles but some caterpillars are still present.”

He added: “We will monitor this. The public are advised not to touch the caterpillars and to report concerns to a member of seafront staff.”