Beekeepers have raised the alarm and told people to be on the lookout after the discovery of a nest of Asian Hornets in the north-west of England.

The non-native invasive insect, which preys on honey bees and threatens biodiversity, was reported by a member of the public who found one of the hornets foraging on figs in the town of Runcorn in Cheshire.

Key features of the highly aggressive hornets, which are about 3cm (1in) and were first sighted in England in 2016, include an entirely black or brown body with distinctive yellow legs.

The British Beekeepers Association (BBKA) said the discovery was of “major concern” as it appeared the pests had spread to a new area, away from the worst-hit sections in Kent and East Sussex, where the vast majority of nests were recorded.

Beekeepers have advised people to take a clear photo from a safe distance where possible, and record the location.

They are then encouraging any hornet spotters to report their findings via the free Asian Hornet Watch smartphone app.

A BBKA spokesman said “do not kill it or disturb any nests” and leave the experts from the National Bee Unit will to assess and respond to any discoveries.

The unit include trained specialists and inspectors to track hornets back to their nests which are then destroyed.

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https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cj9wk01ww43o