A beekeeper has had to move his hives almost 50 miles after bees stung a dozen people.

Worcestershire County Council told the beekeeper in August that he needed to remove his hives from the Countryside Centre in Worcester, where he had kept them for 15 years.

Following several weeks of emails, calls, and meetings, the beekeeper has now removed his hives, taking them 45 miles away, to Herefordshire.

The beekeeper said: “Moving hives at this time of year is possible but far from ideal and certainly not best practice, for a number of reasons.

“I am grateful to Worcestershire County Council for allowing me to site my hives at the Countryside centre over the last 15 years, just sad this came to an end.”

“I moved the hives 45 Miles to Herefordshire into the only available location I have, in the time available.”

On Monday, October 18, the beekeeper met with the council where he was told to vacate the Countryside Centre by the end of the week and he alleges, was promised three nearby locations which never came to fruition.

The council said its decision to evict the hives came after a dozen people were stung, with the beekeeper having broken certain rules.

A spokesperson said: “Worcestershire County Council has been in communication with the beekeeper for several weeks following multiple incidents where members of the public, staff and volunteers were stung as a result of the bee keeper refusing to follow agreed site rules.

“There have been at least 12 people stung over multiple occasions and due to the severity of some of these incidents the decision has been taken that the bee hives must be moved from the Countryside Centre to an alternative location.”

Despite the incident, the council have reaffirmed that they are working hard to support the bee population in Worcester.

The spokesperson added: “Worcestershire remains a ‘pollinator friendly’ county and undertakes the management of its countryside sites in a way that is beneficial for native pollinators such as bumble bees and solitary bees and wasps, as well as domestic honeybees which live in managed hives.”