A flea bite can be irritating – but is it worth a £20,000 payout?

That’s the amount shelled out by Kirklees after a teacher took the council to court after being bitten by one of the tiny wingless bloodsuckers.

The bite triggered an allergic reaction which caused ulcers and pain lasting for two years.

Initially the council refused to pay up, saying it was not negligent, but then coughed up.

A Kirklees spokesman said: “The case was settled out of court following legal advice and the claimant received compensation of around £5,000.

“The remainder was spent on the necessary legal fees.

“This was an unusual situation. Other medical conditions meant the bite became infected, leading to swelling and ulceration and up to two years of pain.”

The Kirklees case was among a total of £4 million paid out in compensation and costs by English councils for accidents and injuries at schools.

Other bizarre incidents include a payout of £82,000 after a south Gloucestershire teacher tripped over a goal net.

Another case cost a London council £220,000 – including £174,000 legal and other costs – when a teacher suffered nose and eye injuries after being hit in the face with a set of maracas in Hounslow.

Over the Pennines in Rochdale, a teacher who strained their back while lifting a table received over £10,000.