Giant bee-killing hornets heading towards UK

A swarm of a potentially lethal species of Asian hornet that can grow to four times the size of British honey bees could be heading towards the English Channel.

As well as a devastating sting, the hornets also attack native honey bees, according to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.

It is believed they entered France in a consignment of pottery from China.

Last year, a 54-year-old man was stung to death after disrupting a nest in France’s Loire Valley.

Defra said “monitoring for arrival is strongly encouraged” and urged beekeepers in south and south-east England to be on the lookout.

The hornets are described as “invasive and predatory” and became rapidly established in France and caused “many problems for both beekeepers and biodiversity”.

Defra wants London beekeepers to consider hanging special traps and report sightings to the BeeBase website.