The weather is finally warm enough to throw open your windows and doors to allow the fresh spring air in, rather than sitting with the heating cranked up.

But while it’s nice to enjoy that refreshing spring breeze, it does allow those pesky house flies to sneak inside your home. The big, buzzy intruders are not only a nuisance as they flit around the room, but house flies also carry more than 100 different pathogens, including bacteria, fungi, viruses and parasites. The flies are known to transmit around 65 diseases and they can contribute to food poisoning by spreading bacteria, so you don’t want them hanging around.

Now that temperatures are hotting up, flies come out of hibernation in search of warmth, food and a place to lay their eggs, and unfortunately, our homes provide the perfect environment.

But according to a DIY expert, there is a cheap way to keep these annoying intruders out of your home using one natural ingredient that only costs around 50p.

Glen Peskett, DIY expert at Saxton Blades, says cucumber slices act as a deterrent to house flies as they don’t like the scent of the plant, so placing these around your home - such as on windowsills - can help to keep the flies out. You can pick up a small whole cucumber at Sainsbury's for just 50p if you have a Nectar card, or 65p without one.

He explains: “When it comes to keeping flies out of the home, many people turn to chemical solutions, but a simple, natural remedy can work wonders.

“Cucumber slices are a surprisingly effective way to repel flies. Flies hate the scent of cucumbers, particularly more bitter ones, so it's a natural deterrent for flies.”

By placing cucumber slices around your home, you’re creating a natural barrier that flies can’t stand. To get the best results, Mr Peskett says to place the slices near windowsills, doorways and bins, and make sure to replace them every few days to maintain their effectiveness.

And if you’re looking to strengthen your defences, you can also try turning off exterior lights and close your blinds or curtains at night, and ensure you take your bins out regularly as flies are attracted to the food.

Mr Peskett adds: “If you’re looking for a more permanent solution, installing fly screens can be a great way to block flies from getting in while still allowing you to enjoy fresh air.

“If you’re into DIY, you can even build your own custom sized fly screens. Using a stanley knife blade will make the job much easier, allowing you to make a precise cut to fit screens perfectly over your windows or doors.”