HUNDREDS of bees swarmed onto the back of a bus in Kendal town centre, forcing passengers to be evacuated.

The Stagecoach bus pulled-up on Stricklandgate after shocked onlookers noticed the colony of bees clinging to its rear.

A replacement bus was arranged and passengers were ushered away but police are preventing the affected bus from moving as the bees 'could pose a risk to the public'.

The Gazette spoke to a bee expert, Dennis Chambers, from Shap, who said it is likely the queen bee flew into the back of the bus and was followed by the males in a bid to reproduce.

He said: "Swarming is the only way they can reproduce. They have usually finished swarming by now but while they're reproducing they can be quite dosile."

One shocked passenger, who wished to remain nameless, said: "It's one of the more unusual bus journeys I've had. We only noticed there was something wrong when some young boys began waving at the bus but I think they were just making the bees angry."

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Stagecoach commented saying: "A replacement bus has been dispatched already and police are arranging for a bee keeper to come from Grange."