Reifenburg: A swarm of flies has infested a village church in western Germany, leading to the cancellation of services, a local official said on Wednesday.

Michaela Huether, mayor of the village of Reifenburg, which has about 800 inhabitants told newsmen: “I have never witnessed anything like it, it is a complete mystery.”

“Thousands of insects swarmed the church’s altar, organ and benches and many got caught in the hair of churchgoers,’’ Huether said.

The major added that the services had to be relocated to the nearby rectory, tribuneonlineng.com reported.

An exterminator is due to arrive in the village on Thursday to rid the church of its unwelcome new guests.