Mr Fitzgibbon told Parliament the flying fox issue posed a health threat to elderly residents with respiratory problems in Maitland, Cessnock, Singleton and many other communities in his electorate.

“Let us explain to the community how and why we are going to do more about this very serious problem in rural and regional Australia,” Mr Fitzgibbon said.

“Anzac Day and other memorial services can no longer be held in Singleton’s Burdekin Park because of the presence of flying foxes.”

But several residents in Sempill Street and Hannan Street, in Maitland, said the bats would never leave while they had a “smorgasbord” of fruit to live on in nearby trees.

“They feed off orange trees and other fruit trees all around here – the bats have a smorgasbord of goodies to eat,” Mary Edwards, who lives in Hannan Street, said.

“There is so much food for them that they won’t go anywhere else,” Ms Edwards said.

“Leaving lights on does not deter them either – they eat the insects that swarm around the lights.

“They screech loudly during the night and terrify my six-year-old son, because he fears they might get into our house.

“I would definitely like to see them removed.”

John McNelis from Sempill Street said: “I have lived here for 21 years and I am sick of these creatures.

“They stink – and when it rains, the smell is just awful and it goes right through our house.

“Young bats have recently been born too and they all leave their excrement over cars – and everything else.

“I strongly support the call by Mr Fitzgibbon to take action against them.”

John Lill from Sempill Street called for people to organise a group with slingshots to get rid of the bats.

Len Chenery from Sempill Street said: “The authorities should have got rid of these pests a long time ago.

“But those authorities who have the power to do something don’t live here with the problem – as we all do.”