HEALTH bosses have quashed claims that a health centre is infested with bed bugs.

Locals were concerned Govanhill Health Centre had been overrun with the insects.

But pest control experts have inspected the building and found no trace of the parasites.

Instead, it is believed problems are being caused by cable bugs - which are not insects but jolts of static electricity.

People moving around a carpeted space wearing synthetic soled shoes generate static, which is activated by being near metal.

The resultant zap feels like the bite of a bug and leaves a red mark.

David Williams, Chief Officer of Glasgow City Health and Social Care Partnership (HSCP), said: “Pest control have confirmed there is no infestation in Govanhill Health Centre.

“The problem is due to ‘cable bugs’ which is prevalent in large offices, computer rooms, telephone exchanges and similar.

"It is the occurrence of high levels of static electricity often generated by people wearing synthetic soled shoes walking on shallow piled polypropylene carpets.”

As told in the Evening Times in April, more than 6700 bed bug and cockroach complaints have been reported in Govanhill in the past 10 years.

Latest figures published by Glasgow City Council show more than 1500 properties have been affected.

But since 2014 the number of reports received has begun to decline.