A BEEKEEPER has relived the moment he came to the rescue of shoppers in March last week as thousands of bees swarmed the High Street.

Edward Turner, of The Rowans, Doddington, donned protective clothing as nearby offices and shops closed their doors after the bees came to rest in a tree outside the Co-op.

A short while after the bees had sent shoppers running for cover, Mr Turner lured them into a basket and the High Street gradually returned to normal.

He said: “I was the person who dealt with the bees on my own after a call from March police.

“Two officers were present for about half an hour till I got the situation under control then left me to it but I’m not a pest controller, I’m actually a beekeeper.

“Most beekeepers will collect swarms rather than have pest control come along and destroy them - which sometimes does have to happen - but bees need all the help they can get at the moment, and the world needs the bees.”

Mr Turner belongs to Huntingdon Bee Keeper’s Association and said people can see bees being worked and inspected on at Hinchingbrooke Park most Sunday afternoons during the summer between 2-3pm.