SWARMS of bees were spotted in Wellington town centre over the past few days as the warmer, sunny weather prompted the natural phenomenon.

Bees typically swarm between May and the end of July when a queen leaves the colony and takes a sizeable number of the worker bees with her to look for somewhere else to live.

Over the weekend at least two swarms were spotted in White Hart Lane, near Wellington Community Centre.

Burgage resident Bob Skittrell arranged for one swarm to be removed by a local beekeeper whom he knew lived in Mantle Street.

Mr Skittrell told the Wellington Weekly: “We have had at least two or three swarms around here.

“I was in the garden and I heard them before I saw them. They were all buzzing around.

“They were all over the path and then they congregated on the wall and sort of amalgamated.

“I was quite close to them but they did not sting me.”

Mr Skittrell watched as the beekeeper used a dustpan and brush to sweep the bulk of the swarm of insects into a box and carry them away.

A number of bees were left behind which were expected to die out over the next few days.

The advice for anybody who spots a bee swarm is to leave it alone and find a professional to deal with it.

Bees will leave people alone unless they perceive somebody as being a threat, such as if anybody waves their arms around or tries to wash them away.

A British Beekeepers Association spokesman said: “Most honey bee swarms are not aggressive, but please do keep away and leave them alone.

“Honey bee swarming is natural and the bees are just looking for a new home.”