Swarming bees spark school alert

Mrs Taylor said staff had noticed "a lot" of bees recently

Pupils at a primary school in Cumbria had to be sent home after it was swarmed by a million honey bees.

It is thought the bees, led by about 30 queens, took up residence in drains at Orgill Primary School, in Egremont.

The 230-pupil school, which teaches children aged three to 11, was forced to shut early on Friday.

Acting head teacher Margaret Taylor said no-one was hurt during the swarm but many children had been left shocked.

Pest control experts were on site on Saturday with instructions to humanely rid of the area of bees.

'Big surprise'

There are thought to be up to three nests in the school grounds.

Mrs Taylor said staff had noticed "a lot" of bees in the area for several days beforehand.

But she said the sudden huge swarm had been "a big surprise".

A spokesman for Copeland Borough Council said: "When our officer arrived the swarm had separated, but from the eye-witness accounts he was given he said it would have been a very large black cloud that would have contained around a million bees and would have been a frightening sight."

A hive has been installed above the roof of the school in the hope the bees will move in over the weekend and can then be moved.