To ask what these tiny evil flies are?

[Meemaid]

South East England - what are these tiny jet black insects that come out at dusk and bite you and hurt like hell? They look like miniature harmless flies but they are not! The size of a pinhead roughly.

They always break the skin so it bleeds. I got bitten on my ankle 3 years ago and it got to the point where I couldn't weight bare and ended up in A&E on IV antibiotics.

I just got bitten twice this evening and am worried it will happen again.

Does anyone know what these horrible creatures are? I want to Google them and find out who I am dealing with.

Blandford Flies?

Yes! That's it! That's just what they look like from checking Google Images. Thanks @Hedgesfullofbirds I'd never heard of them.

It says they are more prevalent in May and June and mostly bite on the legs, and hang around water, so it all matches up with my experience! Evil things!