One of most annoying things about going on holiday can be being attacked by midges and mozzies.

No one wants to come home covered in itchy bites, but expensive insect repellents are so often largely ineffective.

However, it turns out there’s a wonder product that the Royal Marines swear by to keep mosquitoes at bay - and it’s not even meant to be an insect repellent.

Avon’s Skin So Soft dry oil spray costs £2.25, smells pleasant (unlike many repellents) and is surprisingly effective at deterring mosquitoes and midges.

The Royal Marines discovered it in 2005 - when based along the west coast of Scotland, they were regularly attacked by midges until they tried the spray, The Scotsman explains.

“It’s not official kit but nothing works better and the Marines are buying it themselves because the midges are so bad up there,” Neil Smith, a Royal Navy spokesman at HMS Clyde, near Helensburgh, said.

But because you can’t buy Avon products in shops, the Marines are having to order the spray online or through Avon sales people.

“There is nothing effeminate about it,” said a stores sergeant at 45 Commando, based at Arbroath.

“The reason the Nods [Marines] are using it is because it is good kit. It works. It’s as simple as that.”

The Marines aren’t the only ones to have discovered the spray’s miraculous insect-repelling power, thought to be down to the citronella oil it contains.

On the product’s page on Amazon, all the comments rave about its ability to deter midges and mozzies rather than its moisturising capabilities:

“A must buy for anyone camping or caravaning in midge season. This product really does work and keeps them at bay,” wrote one person.

“The best mosquito repellant ever!” commented another.

Some people argue it works less well with mosquitoes than midges, however reports claim that both the US army and the SAS use the spray as mosquito repellent in the jungle.