A SWARM of bees had to be rehomed after they were found in a popular Whitchurch park.

The bees were found in Jubilee Park very close to the children's play area on Saturday, May 20 and local pest control company, Complete Pest Control was called to remove them from the park by Whitchurch Town Council.

Oliver Fitzgerald from Complete Pest Control removed the bees from the park.

He said: "A swarm of bees is quite a spectacle and not many people get to see them.

"You see thousands of bees all bunched together and hanging off each other like a big bunch of grapes."

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Nests tend to be removed by taking the branch with the queen on, leading other bees to follow their queen.

He said: "They are all huddled around the queen.

"The queen would be on the branch and they would be around her to protect her.

"I opened the bucket and shoved the branch into the beehive and all the bees fell in.

"They realised the queen was in a box and they went from the bucket into the box."

This mean he was able to move the bees without antagonising them.

He explained: "Bees are with their food resources.

"Essentially they will gorge themselves on honey. What that means is that they are quite docile when dealing with them.

"You have to reciprocate that. If you are relaxed and calm with them they will do the same.

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"If you can't keep your cool and upset the bees it will be a downward spiral."

Complete Pest Control was thanked by Whitchurch Town Council for removing the bees.

Town clerk Mike McDonald said: "Thanks Complete Pest Control for sorting out our bee issue at Jubilee Park so quickly."