THIEVES have stolen around 20,000 bees from a South Lakeland keeper's swarm with experts claiming it is the first time it has happened in the area.

John Murray, of Staveley, was left distraught after he returned to find thousands of bees had been stolen, including the queen.

He said the remaining 25,000 bees are now threatened as without the queen they have no way of reproducing and no focal point. Finding a replacement bee at this time of year would be ‘a big challenge’, he said.

It is thought whoever stole the bees must have specialist knowledge as they replaced Mr Murray's frames with their own empty ones.

“It's very upsetting,” said Mr Murray. “You grow quite close to them after spending so much time with them. If someone had come to me and asked me to give them a swarm I probably would have given it to them.

“Bees are really fascinating creatures. The way they interact is quite relaxing to watch and they have their own way of communicating with you.”

Mr Murray first got into beekeeping a few years ago after seeing a demonstration about the hobby at Plumgarths, Kendal.

“It's my way of giving something back, not just by looking after the bees but to everybody as they help the whole world.”

Secretary for Furness Beekeeping Association, Dave Walmsley, who has been involved in the hobby for decades, has never heard of somebody’s bees being stolen before.

“The hive at this time of year, when they would be full of honey, will weigh between 50 to 60 kilos, certainly not a one man job to carry,” said Mr Walmsley.

“They would also have to have a big van to put them in. If they did anything wrong they would get very badly stung.”

A swarm of around 20,000 bees is worth around £400.

Anyone with information should call police on 0845 33 00 247.