Beekeeper works despite allergy

A 62-year-old beekeeper who risks death whenever he is stung has said that he will never give up his hobby.

Michael Hunt was ordered by doctors to stop working with bees when his allergy was first discovered. But 30 years later he is still making honey.

He has 35 apiaries in Gloucestershire and said his work was vital as the bee population is falling due to disease.

Mr Hunt is stung about six times in a year and has to keep a portable antidote beside him when he works.

Mr Hunt said: "Over the last decade the bee population has fallen by 70% thanks to Varroa, a parasite which sucks the blood of bee larvae and allows viruses to get in.

"The government has invested just £200,000 in researching it, yet bees are worth £650m to the growers of fruit in this country because of pollination."

Mr Hunt said that 10 of his apiaries had been so badly affected by the harsh winter that they were empty.

He makes more than £1,500 a year selling his product to health shops and garden centres.