The tiny silver insect which could mean your home has a huge and expensive problem

It isn't the insects themselves that are the problem and you don't need to kill them but, a sighting of the insect indicates that a house has damp.

Silverfish live in damp conditions and thrive around water and moisture.

If a silver critter is seen crawling in or out of your skirting boards, or on gaps around windowsills, it could be a sign that there is moisture inside a property.

Should the damp be left unchecked, it could cause households further problems including bricks to crack, joists to rot and plaster to decay.

Damp can be caused by several things from leaking drainpipes to condensation, ageing damp proofing or just poor ventilation.

Rooms including bathrooms or kitchens especially can suffer from poor ventilation where a lot of water is left in the air.

The warning comes after the the National Trust said the nation's historic houses and their treasures are under siege from an army of insects.

The trust said historic artefacts such as 18th century furniture, rare Chinese wallpaper and even knickerbockers worn by playwright George Bernard Shaw, were all damaged by pests including silverfish.

"As soon as you see silverfish you know that there is a water leak in the home," a pest control expert told The Sun.

“People sometimes call up because they think they’re cockroaches because they’re really fast.

“Although silverfish are completely harmless they’re actually worse than cockroaches because it means there's a much bigger problem in the house.

“When people see these bugs, it’s not the insects they should be worrying about.

“They should be worried about sorting out - or getting the landlord to sort out - the leaking roof or shower or whatever is causing the damp and mould.”

The cause can be difficult to find but spotting silverfish indoors is a likely sign that there's damp to be sorted.